Treasured Valley

-by Amy Pence-Brown

For the past four years the Downtown Boise Association, in conjunction with local businesses, has offered artists the opportunity to decorate windows in a winter or holiday theme. The “exhibition” kicks off on the First Thursday in December, which happens to be tomorrow. Traditionally, the artists are instructed to paint their designs onto the glass, and they are unique and fun. This is my first year participating as one of the artists, and since I am not a painter, I inquired as to whether any business might be interested in working with an artist who works with three-dimensional found objects.

Bandanna Running + Walking at 504 Main Street jumped at the chance to, well, take a chance on my non-traditional design. I created a proposal for them, which, much to my surprise, they were totally jazzed about. My window theme is “Walking in a Winter Wonderland,” inspired by the holiday song of the same name as well as the mission of the shop, which specializes in running and walking gear of all kinds. And, since I work mainly with found or recycled objects, I decided to create a display made entirely from objects found in my home.

I hope you’ll stroll by the shop, which is right across the street from Addie’s and next to Ceramica, and take a look at my different take on the traditional winter window. While you’re at it, check out the other fantastic artist windows in the area as well as my friend Jason Sievers new show at the Flying M Coffeehouse. You might want to grab a warm beverage there while you’re at it, which is what we plan to do, before hitting Macy’s for my girls to see Santa. If you’re not up for walking, the link above to the Winter Window Gallery map also has the free trolley schedule, which will take you by all the great art sites this First Thursday and is a hoot for the kiddos. If you can’t make it out tomorrow night, be sure to take some time this month to stroll around downtown Boise at night, as the windows and art shows will be up throughout the month of December.

Amy Pence-Brown likes recycling and downtown strolls in the winter snow…