Bergen County Arts Amble encourages the public to support local artists

Anyone who is out in Bergen County this weekend may notice art popping up around the area. It is part of a new event to highlight some of the county’s most creative residents.
Artist Suzi Gerace says she took a big risk during the pandemic and opened her Hillsdale shop Dream Makers to sell her pottery, up-cycled clothing designs and to offer art classes. She says that she hopes the Bergen County Arts Amble she is participating in brings new visitors through her door.
“I want it to be a community where people feel comfortable, creative and want to grow in their creativity,” Gerace says.
Gerace is one of 150 artists in 17 communities taking place in the Arts Amble. In Fort Lee, local artists will be exhibiting their work outdoors.
"Particularly coming out of COVID, you know, we're losing kind of a sense of community and human touch and that's what artists are all about,” says artist Toney Seker.
The Arts Amble, as the name implies, encourages visitors to travel place to place to discover artwork, and to support artists emerging from the pandemic. The event has actually been in the planning by the organization Creative Bergen before the pandemic hit.
“People couldn't get out and a lot of people had extra time and found they had time to plan this, be part of this,” says Mark Olson of Creative Bergen.
Events and exhibits, almost all of which are free, take place through Sunday.
Locations, which can be found on the Arts Amble website, include galleries, parks, shops and other venues, as well as music and dance programming.
The Arts Amble is sponsored by Sustainable Jersey.