ArtSpace, Art Wauk events this weekend

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People attend ArtWauk in Waukegan in March. An ArtWauk will be held this Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. in downtown Waukegan.

Updated: July 11, 2011 12:18AM

WAUKEGAN — Realtor Kris Seegren said the buzz in her profession surrounding Artspace Projects Inc.’s proposed renovation of the Karcher Hotel has reached a point where friendly rivalries are being set aside.

“We compete with each other, but we’re united about this — it’s a community effort,” said Seegren said on Wednesday as final preparations where put in place for tonight’s Realtor Reception for Artspace Waukegan at Green Town Tavern, 110 S. Genesee St.

Along with Seegren, who works with Re/Max Showcase in Waukegan and Gurnee, the reception was organized by Chandra Sefton of Baird & Warner in Libertyville and Glenn Rickel of Century 21 in Lindenhurst.

Also involved are local backers of the $12.5 million Karcher Artspace Lofts proposal, which would put 36 live/work units for artists in the shuttered Washington Street hotel.

“As Realtors, we talk to so many people about the changes going on downtown. (We’re) really trying to spread a positive image of Waukegan,” Seegren said, adding that the invited guests for the 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. event include bankers and lenders, because “it’s important for the financial world to know what’s going on down there.”

The reception comes two days before the city’s latest edition of ArtWauk, a periodic venture to draw artists and the art community to downtown galleries and businesses. The first edition for 2011, held on March 11, drew a reported 1,000 people.

Saturday’s ArtWauk will again be centered around south Genesee Street, with visitors to the free event asked to check in at Dinosaur Studio, 118 S. Genesee. The work of more than 35 artists will be featured at seven different galleries. Among the highlights on the agenda:

California painter Pablo Ramirez will be the featured artist at Dandelion Gallery, 108 S. Genesee, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

An artist reception for the Lake County Art League will be held at the offices of state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, at 120 S. Genesee St. from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Artist receptions will be held at Dinosaur Studio, Lake Surf Designs (118 S. Genesee) and New Frontier Gallery (100 S. Genesee), all from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Live music performances include da Corneto Opera singers from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Joplin’s Java (114 S. Genesee); an open percussion jam w/ Rhythm Academy of Dance instructor Jerry Sullivan and Latin percussion master Sammie Torres, also at Joplin’s, from 9 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Rosa’s Cantina in the Green Town Community Garden on Genesee north of Water Street from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

After-parties, starting at around 9 p.m., have been scheduled at Green Town Tavern, Big Ed’s (30 N. Genesee) and the Burgundy Room (215 Washington St.).

The Karcher Artspace project itself is still in the process of raising the final, private portion of the funding, estimated earlier this year at $450,000 and $200,000. Jane Waller of the Waukegan Arts Council said contributions continue to both come in and be sought.

“We’re delighted by the generosity of the Waukegan community,” she said. “We’re still waiting on some big requests, and were’ hoping to find out more on those in a month or so. There will be more to tell at that time.”