2026 Participants
The Artists
Thirty talented creators from our community and beyond, bringing their vision to downtown Central Reach.
Maya Chen
Maya works in large-format acrylics, building layers of bold color and gestural marks that explore emotional landscapes. Her studio practice is rooted in improvisation — each piece begins without a plan and finds its way through dozens of layers.
A Central Reach resident for twelve years, Maya has exhibited at regional galleries throughout the Northeast and teaches painting workshops at the Riverside Arts Center.
"I paint what words can't reach. Every canvas is a conversation between intention and surprise."
James Okonkwo
James transforms reclaimed materials — driftwood, rusted metal, discarded machinery — into sculptures that speak to memory and place. His work asks viewers to see beauty in what's been overlooked.
Born and raised in Central Reach, James draws inspiration from the industrial heritage of the riverfront and the natural landscapes surrounding our town.
"Everything has a story. My job is to let the material tell it."
Sofia Reyes
Sofia's mixed media pieces combine paper, fabric, found photographs, and paint to create intimate visual narratives. Her work explores themes of migration, home, and the stories passed between generations.
She moved to Central Reach three years ago and has quickly become an integral part of the local arts community, co-founding the monthly "Art & Story" gathering at the Foundry Studios.
"Every fragment I collect carries someone's history. I piece them together to make something new."
David Park
David's black-and-white photography captures the quiet moments of everyday life in Central Reach — the morning light on Main Street, a child's footprints in fresh snow, the geometry of the old train station.
A retired schoolteacher, David picked up photography in his sixties and has been documenting our community ever since, building an archive that spans two decades.
"I photograph what I don't want to forget."
Ama Kwarteng
Ama creates large-scale weavings using hand-dyed natural fibers, blending traditional Ghanaian weaving techniques with contemporary abstract forms. Her palettes are drawn from the local landscape — river greens, autumn golds, winter grays.
She maintains a studio at Maple Street Studios and offers monthly weaving workshops open to all skill levels.
"Thread connects everything — my heritage, this place, the hands that came before mine."
Leo Marchetti
Leo is the artist behind several of Central Reach's most beloved murals, including the landmark piece on the south wall of the Foundry. His work brings bold geometry and vibrant color to public spaces.
At this year's walk, Leo will be painting a new mural live at the Town Square venue — visitors can watch the work evolve over the two-day event.
"Art shouldn't live behind closed doors. It belongs on walls where everyone can see it."
Nina Blackwood
Nina's wheel-thrown and hand-built ceramics balance function and beauty. Her vessels, bowls, and sculptural forms use locally sourced clay and wood-fired glazes that produce unique, unrepeatable surfaces.
She'll be demonstrating raku firing at the Central Park Pavilion — a dramatic process where pieces are pulled from the kiln at peak temperature.
"Clay remembers every touch. That's what makes each piece alive."
Raj Patel
Raj works at the intersection of code and creativity, producing generative art that responds to data from the natural world — weather patterns, tidal rhythms, bird migration routes. His work bridges technology and nature.
For the art walk, Raj is preparing an interactive installation at the Old Mill Gallery that translates real-time sound from the river into visual projections.
"The algorithm is just a brush. Nature is the artist."