Visitors to downtown Watertown may soon be asking, "How much is that painting in the window?"
The North Country Arts Council is hosting its first Art Squared show and sale at storefronts and other buildings, active and vacant, in downtown Watertown.
Works by Arts Council members, including paintings, photography and mixed media, will begin showing up in downtown windows on Wednesday. The exhibit runs through Jan. 15.
Arts Council member and show co-coordinator Hope A. Marshall said the art pieces will be labeled with information such as who created the work and its price. The label also will have contact info about how to purchase the artwork. Store owners will have no part in the transaction.
"We will guarantee delivery within a week," Mrs. Marshall said.
She said the council got the idea when a member read a story in the Watertown Daily Times about a similar program in New York City.
"We had the idea before, but that brought it to the forefront," Mrs. Marshall said. "We're doing it to show downtown has lots of qualities."
The Arts Council doesn't have a permanent home or exhibition space.
"This is giving our members some exposure," Mrs, Marshall said.
She said about 15 sites downtown have signed on for the exhibit.
"Also, Neighbors of Watertown has some vacant windows they donated," Mrs. Marshall said.
Art Squared is for Arts Council members only. They can drop off works from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday at the Paddock Arcade, where a table will be set up near the Paddock Coffee House.
The council will retain 20 percent of sales as commission. Once an art piece is sold, it will be replaced by another item.
The project is in partnership with the North Country Children's Clinic, the Downtown Business Association and Neighbors of Watertown.
Mrs. Marshall said the North Country Children's Clinic has about 60 pieces left over from its "Art Opens Doors" fundraiser, which benefited the clinic and North Country Access Cycling. In it, 6-inch-by-6-inch artwork pieces were sold. Those items will sell for $20, Mrs. Marshall said, and will benefit the two organizations.
For more information on the exhibit, Mrs. Marshall at 629-4131 or co-coordinator Cecilia M. Thompson at 777-3385.
