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April 21, 2021

Window art event aims to lure visitors downtown

PHOTOS | CONTRIBUTED
By Natalie Missakian

Shops have been coping with slower foot traffic as people stay home during the pandemic, but downtown boosters are planning a first-ever art event to draw people back to city sidewalks this spring.

The Shops at Yale and Whitney-Audubon Retail and Arts District are staging downtown’s first Window Art Stroll and Contest, which will take place from May 15 through June 27.

Playing up New Haven’s reputation as an arts destination, the self-guided walking tour will feature temporary window art installments by some 30 Connecticut artists. 

At 10 a.m. on Saturday May 15 (rain date May 16), artists will begin to transform merchants’ windows at 30 locations within the Broadway, Chapel and Whitney-Audubon downtown districts. 

People can vote for their favorite art display by visiting the Shops at Yale website after completing the walk.

Voters will be entered for a chance to win gift cards to various retailers and restaurants, including L.L. Bean, Tarry Lodge, lululemon, Katalina’s Bakery, J. Crew and others. 

“We wanted to create a unique and engaging outdoor activity for people of all ages in Greater New Haven to enjoy after a long winter,” said David DelVecchio, director of real estate asset management at Yale University Properties. He said the stroll is about 1.5 miles and can be done in just over an hour. 

“Although there are many great restaurants, cafes, eateries, retail shops and architectural points of interest along the route so walking times could vary from an hour to a full afternoon,” he said. 

Printed event guides and walking maps will be available from participating merchants and online. Local musicians will provide live music on Saturdays during the event from noon to 4 p.m.

Artists will be awarded prizes for first, second and third place, as well as for Best Summer Theme on Broadway, and the winners will be announced June 28. 

“I want people to feel good about our city, and art is my way of giving them that,” said New Haven resident and artist Candyce “Marsh” John, whose art will be featured outside Sneaker Junkies on Chapel Street. She said she hopes her art will “make a few people smile while they’re traveling through New Haven.”

The Shops at Yale is offering two hours of free parking at the 56 Broadway and 255 Crown St. lots with a $25 same-day purchase from participating retailers and restaurants.

In recent years, New Haven has had an ongoing public-art effort aimed at transforming vacant downtown storefronts into gallery space for original artwork.

Contact Natalie Missakian at news@newhavenbiz.com

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