An Art Walk on the Edge of Texas
by Blasita J. Lopez
In current day trends, people have so many more ways to meet, Skype Conferences, Instameets on Instagram and Google+ Hangouts, all on-line and over the World Wide Web, but what if, we went back to our roots?
Several downtown Laredo spots have long been natural gathering scenes because of our unique system of town squares, or plazas, as we like to call them here. It’s a tradition that has been passed down through generations and borrows from Spanish and Mexican influences over two centuries. In Texas, only San Antonio and Laredo have more than two plazas, according to one of our sources and friends at the Texas Historical Commission.
In order to preserve this heritage, a new series of activities launched earlier this year are great platforms that allow visitors and locals alike to enjoy each other and downtown Laredo from a new point of view.
One of those recent events is CaminArte, a free, self-guided, walk-at-your-own-pace exploratory activity held in historic downtown Laredo on the first Friday of each month, launched this past March. Each location hosts an array of art, some creator demonstrations and art community enthusiasts willing to share their craft.
Participating locations are:
- Laredo Center for the Arts
- Gallery 201
- Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau
- On the Rocks Tavern
- Casa Ortiz
- Washington’s Birthday Celebration Museum
- La Posada Hotel
- Plaza San Agustin
Interested art-walkers can pick up a map at any one of the above locations and easily follow their own path or the suggested one marked by chalk art clues along the sidewalk, sandwich board signs at each local and Tourism Ambassadors, strategically placed along the route.