By John A. Barry

The weekend of August 21 in Danville was an artful one that actually started on Thursday with the annual Art and Wine Stroll. Three art venues featured receptions and exhibits in conjunction with the Stroll.

In addition to his own work, Kevin Milligan exhibited a variety of abstract pieces at his gallery on Hartz Avenue. kevinmilligangallery.com

Link2 Fine Art, in the Rose Garden, provided music as well as art for reception-goers. link2fineart.com

In the Livery, The Art Lab featured an array of work at its reception. theartlab.org

On Saturday Blackhawk Plaza became a plein air gallery for an all-day Art and Wine Celebration. Although the event was dominated by the dozens of visual artists exhibiting their work, the Danville Poets Society offered two poetry readings, hosted at read.booksellers. A member of the Society, I participated in both readings. The Society had a table in the Plaza rotunda, where I exhibited several art pieces (pictured is the table, manned by Bob Eastwood, guiding light of the Poets Society). The Plaza is the site of the Alamo Danville Artists Society (ADAS) Blackhawk Gallery. ADAS was a cosponsor of the art-and-wine event.

At the Village Theater Art Gallery, on Front Street, the “Twisted, Chiseled, Fired” sculpture show is ongoing, through September 4. Any assessment of art is to a greater or lesser extent subjective. With that caveat in mind, I’ll say that I found the first two exhibits at this venue rather weak. The current sculpture exhibit is much stronger. Whimsy tends to dominate, exemplified by the four pieces greeting visitors to the gallery: a hippo made from unidentifiable yet somehow familiar-looking metal objects, a large set of keys hanging from an oversize hook, and three geometrically shaped humanoid figures seemingly in motion. ci.danville.ca.us/content.aspx?id=3075

The weekend was rounded out by a jam comprising a baker’s dozen of bands at The Art Lab.

John A. Barry is a writer and avocational artist. To share anything art-related, call him at 314-9528 or email jobarry@pacbell.net