6:21 PM: Sun’s out and the West Seattle Art Walk is on – two dozen venues around West Seattle, welcoming you to come enjoy art and meet the artists, until 9 pm. See the map/list here; we’re out stopping at some of the venues – coverage to come.

(Added below over the ensuing two-plus hours, which also now have transitioned to drizzly weather post-8 pm…)

The party’s on the Hotwire (WSB sponsor) patio at 4410 California SW – among the guests, David Kelliher, who designed the T-shirt art for “Bridging the Gap” used for publication 30 years ago and gracing a commemorative T-shirt now:

Also there, Clay Eals, executive director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which is presenting an exhibit of 19 historical photos spanning West Seattle bridges’ history – which dates back to the 1890s, as you’ll learn from an explanatory sign just inside Hotwire’s front doors. If you miss the chance to buy a T-shirt tonight – benefiting SWSHS – they’re also on sale at the museum (61st/Stevens, noon-4 pm Thursdays-Sundays) and at West 5 in The Junction.

Fritz Rud is at Click! (WSB sponsor) with his attention-grabbing creations:

Click! co-proprietor John Smersh says they’ll be on sale at least for the rest of the month, if not beyond – while they last; as explained on the Click! site, each of the no-power-supply-required creations is one of a kind.

The 20th annual West Seattle Garden Tour (co-sponsored by WSB) is coming up July 20th, and tonight, art from the WSGT poster contest is at Windermere in The Junction – as are many participating artists:

From left – this year’s winner Sue Madill, Gretchen Flickinger, Bonnie Bennedsen, Theresa Neinas, Sheila Lengle, Paul Illian, and Bob Tasler. Copies of the poster are on sale, as well as WSGT tickets. The tour raises money for local nonprofits; Sue’s contest-winning painting will be sold via silent auction on tour day, and the others’ work is available for purchase now.

Opening night tonight at Wallflower (WSB sponsor) in The Junction for Rodolfo Rios Garza‘s show “Arboles: Serenity, Beauty, and Mystery of Trees.” If you didn’t get there tonight, you can check it out at the gallery through July 8th.

Most if not all Art Walk venues continue displaying their highlighted exhibitions through the rest of the month, so you can continue Art Walk-ing around West Seattle in the days and nights ahead. Next Art Walk is an extra-special one – the annual West Seattle Summer Fest Eve edition, starting after the streets in the heart of The Junction close Thursday, July 10th, for festival setup – watch for more on that as July gets closer – and of course, there will be venues outside The Junction as well, as always.