photos by Jon Golinger
With the annual Capitol Hill Art Walk, Sept. 13 and 14, in the rearview mirror, we’re pausing to reflect (with our feet propped up after weeks of hanging flyers and two days of art installation) on this, our third go-round.
Participation in 2023 (40 artists) doubled in 2024 (80 artists). And doubled again this year, with 160 artists and crafters at 76 locations spread across Capitol Hill. We have no way to know the number of visitors, but the streets were lively throughout the event. Neighbors, friends and total strangers enjoyed the delightful weather and historic setting in the company of fellow art-lovers, including Aaron Myers, the executive director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Participating artists report that visitors found this outdoor “art gallery” a fun and accessible way to see and buy art.
It is exciting to see such diversity in art media: woodworking, textiles, welding, ceramics, jewelry, printing, painting. As the event organizers, we’ve come to expect it, but for many it’s a revelation to discover that there are so many artists with a Capitol Hill connection. If you were otherwise engaged and missed this year’s Art Walk, or you regret forgoing a purchase, you can find a complete list of artists with their contact information at www.hillrag.com/art-walk-2025.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of others. On behalf of the Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL), we want to thank the Hill Rag especially for its sponsorship of the Capitol Hill Art Walk. Without a central physical location, the event is entirely dependent on the Hill Rag website to connect artists with visitors, providing a map and images of the artists’ work.
With the Hill Rag’s partnership, this event has become not only a Capitol Hill art staple but a regional signature art event, the largest in the metro area. Free to both artists and guests, it’s a community-building experience that brings us great joy. In fact, we’re so chuffed about it that we’ve already chosen dates for 2026: Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13. We hope you put it on your calendar.
Tara Hamilton and Elizabeth Nelson are members of the CHAL Art Walk Committee. Learn more about CHAL at www.caphillartleague.org.
