Bloomington Citywide Slow Art Day

For their 5th Slow Art Day, Eaton Studio Gallery in Bloomington, IL., spearhead another citywide Slow Art Day in 2024, and as one of the *18* locations, invited participants to a sip-n-view followed by a conversation with artist Herb Eaton.

Exterior of the Studio Gallery

Participants slow looking and engaging with artist Herb Eaton

Herb Eaton with Slow Art Day participants

“Scribbler’s Memorial” Bronze & Stainless by Herb Eaton

Assorted artworks by Herb Eaton

Slow Art Day has become a prominent force across Bloomington during the past few years, and Pamela Eaton, who has spearheaded the citywide Slow Art Day, told us that the whole multi-venue celebration has been transformative for art in Bloomington.

“Collaborating with the other artists and galleries in our community for Slow Art Day has given our local art scene more visibility and we are now attracting more local and out of town visitors to our art locations.”

Pamela Eaton

The citywide event received a promotion grant to help cover the cost of printing promotional materials, and Eaton Gallery itself received an Illinois Tourism grant to promote the Art Trail on Route 66 for Slow Art Day.

To conclude the festivities, all Slow Art Day goers across the 18-venue city-wide Slow Art Day event were invited to a closing reception with a prize giveaway at The Hangar Art Company from 2 to 4 p.m. in Downtown Bloomington.

At Slow Art Day HQ we have been delighted to follow the events by Eaton Studio Gallery since they joined the Slow Art Day movement during the Covid19 Pandemic. From designing a drive-by exhibition in 2020 to now leading a city-wide phenomenon — we can’t wait to see how Slow Art Day grows in Bloomington during the years to come.

-Johanna, Ashley, Jessica Jane, and Phyl

15-site Citywide Slow Art Day in Illinois!

As many of you get ready for Slow Art Day 2023, we wanted to share this exciting news: the Bloomington-Normal, Illinois art community currently has *15* locations signed up for their citywide Slow Art Day 2023.

Located on the historic Route 66, these Bloomington artists and galleries are banding together to make Slow Art Day a full citywide celebration of art (and they designed a great poster, as you can see below).

Poster courtesy of Santino Lamancusa

Pamala Eaton of Eaton Studio Gallery started Slow Art Day in Bloomington several years ago.

This year Pamala’s colleagues, photographer Santino Lamancusa, owner of the The Hangar Art Gallery, and Janean Baird from Art Vortex, have met regularly to encourage and include other artists and galleries to join the now 15-site citywide, including:

410 Sculpture Park
Angel Ambrose Fine Art Studio
Art Vortex Studio & Gallery
Three Square Art Studio
Mandy Roeing Fine Art
Inside Out: Accessible Art
Eaton Studio Gallery
Illinois Art Station
The Hangar Art Company
The House on Garling
Joann Goetzinger Studio Gallery
Main Gallery 404
McLean County Museum of History
McLean County Arts Center
BCAI Cultural Center

Wow!

They are so well-organized in Bloomington that they are even discussing plans to coordinate a *statewide* Slow Art Day in future years.

We can’t wait to see what they do this year *and* in the future.

Have a great Slow Art Day, everyone!

– Phyl, Johanna, Jessica Jane, Ashley, and Robin

P.S. If you want to send us advance details about your Slow Art Day 2023 plans, then please do and we may be able to feature you in a post like this.