MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Arts Walk kicks off its seventh season on Friday, May 8, from 5-7 p.m., turning the downtown and historic Marble Works into a center for art, music, food and fun. Participating businesses remain open late, becoming galleries displaying the work of area artists. Art will turn up in restaurants, on the town green, in stores and in other exciting and unlikely places. Many of the venues will display their participating artist throughout the month.
The Arts Walk takes place on the second Friday of the month, 5-7 p.m., May through October. All exhibits are free and the Arts Walk is a family-friendly event. In addition, musicians will perform in the town’s outdoor parks whenever possible and weather permitting. The range of work on view includes paintings, photography, performances and crafts.
Where to Go and What to See
•  Clay’s, 60 Main St. Steven Jupiter’s watercolors enhance the brilliant colors of Clay’s spring line.
•  Clementine, 56 Main St. Take the afternoon off and bring your mom (or a friend) for an afternoon tea party and book signing with ceramicist and artist Molly Hatch. Hatch’s unique illustrations have gained a loyal following as she applies them to ceramics, house wear and, recently, letterpress stationery. Tea and finger foods will be served and copies of Hatch’s new book, “A Teacup Collection: Paintings of Porcelain Treasures,” will be on hand for her to sign.
•  Danforth Pewter, Main Street. Face painting. Stop on by and enjoy the fun. 
•  Dux the Balloon Man, Cannon Park. Hand-sculpted balloon animals made right before your eyes. If you missed him at the Chili Fest, here’s your chance to watch him.
•  Edgewater Gallery, 1 Mill St. Join Woody Jackson for his retrospective exhibit, “Wholly Cow,” through May. Spanning over four decades, his history of works will be on display and available for purchase. Also featuring Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and bluegrass music from Caleb Elder and Brett Hughes.
•  Helen Porter Nursing Home, 30 Porter Drive. Featuring local photographer Teena Betourney. Beautiful photos of our local area.
•  Henry Sheldon Museum, 1 Park St. Hosting a 50-percent-off sale in the Museum Shop, May 5-9. Tour the elegant 1829 Judd-Harris House, which features a collection of 19th- and early 20th-century Vermont furniture, paintings and household artifacts. Admission fee of $10 will be waived during the Arts Walk.
•  Junebug, 5 Park St., Star Mill. Children, bring your parents for a fun time of making pinwheels on the patio (weather permitting).  
•  Otter Creek Framing, 3 Park St. Featuring Jean Cherouny’s metamodernist art world with her paint. This style of painting relates to the turbulent and the “nothing is really happening doomed technological generation” depicting nothing but what is layered on the surface.  
•  Otter Creek Kitchenware and Electronics, 211 Maple St., Marble Works. Celebrate their first anniversary by welcoming the Snowflake Brass ensemble performing at the store.
•  Otter Creek Used Books, 99 Maple St., Marble Works. Walk the story of the children’s book, “Little Blue and Little Yellow,” written by Leo Lionni, a wonderful story about friendships. Each book page is mounted on a stake, and read in order leading the reader to the store. During the Middlebury Arts Walk each child will receive cookies and a goodie bag related to the story they just read. 
•  Sarah Wesson Studio, 10 Merchants Row, 204 Battell Building. Featuring oil and watercolor paintings. Enter the Battell Building under the green awning. Go to the top of the stairs and turn left.                                                                                                                                  
•  Steven Jupiter Gallery, Frog Hollow Alley. Hosting a reception marking their grand opening and first exhibit: “Hubbardton Creek,” a series of large-scale photographs of the waterways surrounding Jupiter’s home in Hubbardton.
•  Sweet Cecily, 42 Main St. Featuring the work of local Vermont artists all summer, including Bruce Baker’s sterling silver jewelry cast from all natural objects.
•  Zone Three Gallery, Westridge Office Building, Marble Works, 152 Maple St., ThirdFloor. Offering a one-night-only spring art clearance — up to 75 percent off gallery held works, including featured artist of the month,  Frank Asch, a celebrated Vermont children’s book author and artist.
To learn more about the Middlebury Arts Walk, visit: http://business.addisoncounty.com/events/index/2015-05-08.