Christina Christie is new to Port Moody and was looking for a way to hook up with the local arts community, and the 13th annual ArtWalk seemed like just the ticket.
"I always like to be part of the community with arts," Christie said. "When I lived in Maple Ridge I was in Art in the Park two or three times and I really enjoyed it.
"So now that I'm in Port Moody I figured, since we have artists here and art all over the walls, it would be great to be part of the ArtWalk."
The location Christie is talking about happens to be the Black Rabbit tattoo studio on St. Johns Street.
The recent Emily Carr grad opened the space nearly a year ago and has covered the hallway and studio walls with pieces from her school days, as well as more recent works.
Christie started creating art for a tattoo studio in Maple Ridge while she was still in high school. Eventually she started learning the craft hands-on, even though she'd never considered becoming a tattoo artist.
When the shop shut down Christie decided to open her own.
She'd always been drawn to an Alice in Wonderland style of art - a little bit creepy and dark, but still "cutesy" - and wanted to call the shop White Rabbit, but changed her mind when she found out another tattoo parlour already had the name.
"Besides, I kinda like Black Rabbit, it's like the black sheep," Christie said.
ArtWalk visitors who pop in to the Black Rabbit are in for a surprise, as there's much more to it than books of tattoo art.
From the tiny, quirky miniatures depicting a can of Coke and bottle of Tide detergent, complete with ornate frames, to the large-scale portraits of Christie, her friends and family, some with a pop art or comic-book sense of humour, the artists' talents are readily apparent.
In fact, Christie hopes visitors to her shop focus more on her artwork, as well as that of her staff, rather than the tattoo aspect.
"I would really just love for people to come and check out the art," Christie said, particularly an art crowd that might not otherwise step into a tattoo parlour.
This year's ArtWalk is bigger than ever, with more than 60 artists in about 25 locations in Port Moody, said ArtsConnect executive director Helen Daniels.
"It's an opportunity for artists and the public to interact so visitors, if they are so inclined, should feel free to ask the artists questions about their work, what inspires it, their techniques," Daniels said. "Also, the artwork is for sale and we encourage people to support our local artists through the purchase of their work."
The ArtWalk weekend starts with a reception at the Old Mill Boathouse (2715 Esplanade Ave., PoMo) on Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ArtWalk continues Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Visitors can print off a map from www.artsconnect.ca or pick one up at the Port Moody Arts Centre, the library or the Station Museum. Be sure to drop by the Port Moody Station Museum, one of 21 stops on the tour, to check out works by four different artists and stop for some tea, coffee, juice and snacks on the Venosta railcar (from 1 to 4 p.m.).
