Artists vying for eyes and dollars have launched new monthly events in the hopes of drawing year-round interest to their work.

The DIY Art Block Walk happens on the evening of May 6 on the block of East 15th Avenue between Fraser and Kingsway, and First Saturday Open Studios runs May 7 on the East Side.

Aline Beth Marshall opened Heaventree Gallery on East 15th in 2005. The struggling gallerist contemplated leaving the neighbourhood after she broke her leg, but once she saw the Aion Gallery, Ruby Dog's Art House, Spool of Thread and other artsy businesses--not to mention the popular French bistro Les Faux Bourgeois--move in, she stayed, changing her business to Clayzone Ceramics Gallery.

Now Marshall organizes events that celebrate the creative energy that abounds on the teensy block with art happenings on the first Friday of every month, 6 to 9 p.m.

Clayzone will feature a tastings of artisanal chocolates served on Marshall's paper clay tapas plates, wine and live jazz for $20 this month, the second block walk. While Marshall would like chocoholics to pre-register, passersby can wander in, enjoy the music and peruse the pottery. The nearby Studiolo will exhibit silver jewelry and paintings, Ruby Dog's Art House will be open and live music will play at the Lion's Den Café.

"It hopefully won't rain," Marshall said, "because it's a nice Friday evening to come out."

Marshall plans to connect with nearby studios on Kingsway and hopes the block walk will flourish in the summer.

Those who want to keep the art party going or who can't make Friday's block walk can head to the First Saturday Open Studios the next day.

Assemblage and mixed media artist Valerie Arntzen, formerly executive director of the Eastside Culture Crawl Society for 11 years and one of its founding directors, helped start First Saturday Open Studios.

"I was just wanting a way to get people to start coming to my studio regularly without having to make an appointment, because sometimes that can be a little intimidating," she said.

Seven individuals in five buildings will open their doors to visitors next month, including painters, photographers and mixed media artists. Prices will range from $3 for cards to thousands for Marta Baricsa's large contemporary paintings.

"Right now it's in its grassroots stages and hopefully it will grow and just give people more opportunity to meet the artists in their community," Arntzen said. "It's not all about sales. It's just getting people to see your stuff and having people come into your studio because you're in there all year by yourself."

Arntzen and collage artist and painter Robi Smith update the First Saturday Open Studios Facebook page each month to include the websites of each of the participating artists and a link to a Google map marked with each studio. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m.

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Artists in Our Midst has an exhibit running at the Roundhouse Community Centre today (April 29) from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. West Side galleries and venues are open to the public this Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, see artistsinourmidst.com.

Gallery Hop Vancouver also happens this weekend, with gallery tours and talks and a film screening, April 30. For more information, see canadianart.ca/vancouverhop.

crossi@vancourier.com

Twitter: @Cheryl_Rossi