Bridging the Gap Between the Arts and Businesses

Over 25 businesses and artists are participating in Larchmont’s 3rd annual Arts on the Avenues. The Larchmont Chamber of Commerce is hosting this month-long event as a way of attracting new visitors to local businesses and getting new eyes on the work of local artists by pairing them up. Each of the participating businesses will feature the work of a different artist during the month-long event.

“Supporting these businesses and finding clever ways to attract people to them is really critical,” says Creative Director and Curator Laura Saravia, who notes that some places that participated last year are no longer open.

Participating businesses are located throughout Larchmont Village in the areas around Palmer Avenue and Boston Post Road.  One that is taking part in the festivities is Baked in Color, which opened in May of 2022 and is new to the event. Founder and CEO Julie Waxman says she’s ‘thrilled’ to display the work of one of the participating artists in the dessert shop: “We often refer to our treats as cookie art, so participating in the Arts on the Avenues event is an exciting opportunity for us.  We are passionate about art, beauty and desserts – and this event brings together all of these passions.”  The shop will be featuring Lauren Camara, who is also new to Arts on the Avenues. Her paper artwork will be rotated throughout the event.

Says Camara: “The minute I walked into the shop; I knew we were perfectly paired. The shop is bright, colorful and joyful, and their tagline is ‘the happiest cookies on earth.’  I like to consider my art to be happy and full of joy as well. My work is created using bold colors and patterns just like the bright cookies at Baked in Color.”

Other artworks on display include an array of offerings, from painting and drawing to photography and sculpture. Featured artists include Soma Vajpayee’s vibrant watercolor and oil paintings, Erwin Ong’s colorful character-illustrations, Linz Sepe’s retro/futuristic collage works.

Laura Saravia is Chair and Creative Director of Arts on the Avenues, and also owner of LOUDA Creative Group: “Bringing this art event to Larchmont has helped to nurture local Westchester artists while providing a creative way for merchants to find new customers and it’s had a residual effect on the community beyond the month-long event.”

There will be a wide range of activities and events for guests to look out for, including a scavenger hunt that lasts the duration of the event, for which guests have to search for the various artists’ works that are on display. Depending on the day, there will also be music performances, face painting, artist/curator talks and more. Additionally, there will be tours of the event locations.

Click here for more information about Arts on the Avenues.

Photo: Marla Beth from Marla Beth Designs in 2022 at J. McLaughlin