Crowds turn out for hands-on ‘Makers’ edition of Emporia First Friday

A large crowd packed into a single downtown space Friday evening as the January “Makers” edition of Emporia First Friday offered a warm, hands-on alternative to the traditional art walk.

Held inside the newly renovated production facility at Radius Brewing Company, the event brought together all exhibits under one roof — a change that proved popular with both artists and art walkers seeking shelter from the cold while enjoying live demonstrations and interactive art.

Among the featured makers was Liz Shafer of Botanica Floral and Design, who drew steady attention with her fresh floral bouquets. Smith said she has been creating botanical designs since 2019, teaching herself the craft after “kind of stumbling into it” and discovering a passion she has continued to grow.

The display of colorful, fragrant arrangements became a natural gathering point as visitors stopped to admire the details and chat with Smith about her process.

Victor Santillana also attracted interest with his visually striking 2D artwork, which many attendees described as “cool” and eye-catching. His pieces added bold color and contrast to the space, complementing the wide range of media represented during the walk.

Across the room, Dave Leiker worked throughout the evening on his video “long portrait” project, capturing moments and expressions as part of an ongoing series. The live, in-progress nature of the work gave visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process in real time.

Art walkers moved easily from one exhibit to the next, stopping to watch demonstrations, ask questions and interact directly with the artists. Many commented on how the single-location format made the event feel lively and connected, while also simplifying navigation during the colder month.

The January Art Walk was sponsored by the Sela Group and supported in part by the State of Kansas through the Kansas Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Emporia First Friday continues monthly, highlighting local and regional artists while adapting its format to keep the event accessible and engaging year-round.