From 5 to 9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, hundreds of artists gather at The Galleries at Sunset Center to display their work at the First Friday Art Walk.

The monthly event draws a large crowd as it offers many free attractions.

“We have this party once a month and there is no charge for anything,” Ann Crouch, coordinator of the First

Friday Art Walk, said. “We have a free buffet, live music [and] the artists are here to talk to people and become acquainted with the public.”

Crouch, who started the event, said she ultimately wanted to expose the public to the local art the panhandle has to offer.

“The Art Walk was started as a means of exposing the public to the artists we have in this area, and there are people from all over the area that will attend Art Walk to view and purchase art,” Crouch said.

One of the galleries displaying their art is the West Texas A&M art department.

“West Texas A&M has a student and experimental gallery which is geared toward displaying the students’ work and to do that we have student exhibitions, group student exhibitions and faculty exhibitions during the Art Walk,” said Marcus Melton, assistant professor of Art.

The Art Walk provides people with a unique opportunity as well.

“There is a lot of opportunity to see a wide variety of art work here at Sunset,” Melton said. “This is a very unique community of artists.”

Ultimately Melton and the students of the WT art department appreciate the support.

“We appreciate the students who come out and support the WT art program and all of the gallerys,” Melton said. “It’s great for me and the students to expose our work and show what we are doing to the public.”

The public enjoys the environment of the Art Walk just as much as the artists do.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been here and it’s been fantastic,” Kiefer Shipman said. “Everyone is so friendly. They will talk to you about the work out here.”

One art gallery, which is represented by Center City of Amarillo, uses the Art Walk to display their latest painted horses.

“The First Friday Art Walk has given us the opportunity to display the horses that are painted by the artists,” Sallye Hand, assistant at Center City of Amarillo, said.

Hand also believes that looking at art is one of the most important parts of the Art Walk.

“I think looking at art is a very personal experience,” Hand said. “I think everyone should get out there to find what they like. It’s about finding what creates that emotional experience.”

The First Friday Art Walk is held the first Friday of every month. The next Art Walk will take place on March 1.