RACINE - A week ago it was a watercolor, now a Picasso, next … a masterpiece?

This Saturday, the Sixth Street canvas (read: construction site), between Monument Square Drive and Park Avenue, may resemble the designs of an abstract artist, but not even last week's rainstorms could dampen the outlook of the soon-to-be rejuvenated area.

"The construction crews are aware of Gallery Night and they have assured us that the sidewalks will be accessible and the streets open," said Jean Garbo, director of marketing for the Downtown Racine Corp. "They did a fantastic job of having access on Sixth Street during First Fridays a couple of weeks ago and we anticipate the same type of cooperation."

The construction schedule makes the year's second of four Downtown Gallery Nights the only one forced to deal with an accessible, yet undoubtedly daunting, Sixth Street gallery walk.

Looking west from Main Street, Gallery Night pedestrians are likely to see orange construction barrels, yellow machinery and a brown roadway closed to traffic. But Racine Assistant Commissioner of Public Works John Rooney said the eastern portion of the construction site could have some sidewalk restoration completed, while the western portion is likely to be in the midst of utility work.

"I would think that major construction like this has to be of some concern to everyone it affects. This year the construction began after our first February event and should be over in time for our July event, so it is only affecting this particular one," Gallery Night coordinator Thom Bowen said of Saturday's event. "I'm sure whatever the condition of Sixth Street is on that night will have some effect, since it is primarily a pedestrian event."

As of Friday, the south side of the pedestrian walkway between Park Avenue and College Avenue featured plywood and steel coverings over about 40 percent of the old sidewalk. Between College Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue, it was the north side of the street featuring those coverings.

With work scheduled to continue between Monument Square Drive and Park Avenue leading up to the May 5 deadline for Phase One of the project, Rooney said workers will clean the site for Gallery Night and the May 2 First Fridays event, much the same way they did for First Fridays on April 4.

Employees at Cobblestone Art & Framing, 415 Sixth St., Elements, 409 Sixth St., and Artists Galley, 312 Sixth St., as well as Bowen, all expressed their pleasure with the way the site was handled for First Fridays.

"I was open for the First Friday during April and traffic was good. They had the sidewalks open a little later than expected, almost 5:45 p.m., otherwise the sidewalks were open and easy to navigate," said Jeff Shawhan, owner of Elements, Sixth Street's newest gallery. "I closed at 9:15 and people were still walking by."

Something old, something new

Shawhan grew up in Racine, admittedly spending about 70 percent of his childhood in Lockwood Park on Ohio Street and Graceland Boulevard.

"I was so busy playing sports, I don't think I ever made a piece of art outside of school," Shawhan said. "It was the '70s and it was long hair and concert T-shirts."

Today, he lives in Caledonia with his wife, Jennifer, and sons Nolan and Sullivan.

Walking by Elements, you may see the boys creating their own art or watching the construction crew working directly outside the studio's front window.

"I'm surprised how talented the construction crews are," Shawhan said. "The individuals who operate the heavy machinery are amazing. They handle the machines as if they were an extension of their own bodies. I guess it is like creating a work of art except that I've never made a work of art which took me months or years to complete."

An artist, husband and father, Shawhan is also a professor at Concordia University in Mequon where he teaches three-dimensional art classes.

"The university affords me to be an artist instead of a 'starving' artist," he said. "The students really appreciate my role as an exhibiting, practicing artist. I also enjoy teaching a lot. It is great to see others get as much enjoyment making art as I do."

Raku to you, too

Elements, which was open for February's Gallery Night, will continue to operate by appointment only until May, Shawhan said. The studio space is a bit smaller than what he previously had in Milwaukee, but works well for his focus on raku.

Raku is pottery process that originated in Japan sometime during the 16th century. It involves heating a ceramic piece to nearly 2,000 degrees before glazing it with sawdust or other materials rather than immediately cooling it with water or open air flow.

"I first saw the raku firing process at UW-Parkside in 1986. A friend of mine, Racine potter Tony Macias, was taking red hot pots out of a kiln and placing them in a bucket of saw dust. I was hooked," Shawhan said. "The works today range from traditional shapes from bowls, plates, vessel and teapots, to more sculptural forms and jewelry. Prices range from $20 to $200."

During Gallery Night, Shawhan will showcase his line of raku-fired ceramics, paintings by James Hempel, glasswork by Dale and Kathy Eggert, pottery by Neil Estrick, jewelry by Lionel Mindin and photography Jim Becia and student Peter Beck.

"The plan for the future is to rotate the work in the gallery every few weeks," Shawhan said. "I plan on bringing in fresh faces and new works quite frequently. I want people to be surprised at the change of work each time they visit."

A Gallery Night pre-show

With Gallery Night focusing attention on Racine's art scene, Downtown Racine Corp. decided to highlight the area's newest gallery with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"We felt it's a perfect tie-in to coordinate the ribbon-cutting with Gallery Night," DRC's Garbo said. "The ribbon-cutting will be held at 5:30 p.m. and Gallery Night begins at 6 p.m. We're hoping visitors will come down early and start their evening at Elements and then visit the rest of Downtown's galleries and workshops."

It's about the art

In all, 16 galleries and workshops along Sixth Street, Wisconsin Avenue and Main Street will be open from 6-9 p.m. for Gallery Night.

"There are two new galleries participating this year, Elements and 716 Fine Art (401 Main St.)." coordinator Thom Bowen said. "Other than that, Gallery Night is pretty much always just about the galleries and their exhibits, openings and the new art that they have. We have never had a ribbon cutting before on Gallery Night."

With the ribbon-cutting ceremony, addition of 716 Fine Art, which relocated last fall from 716 58th St. in Kenosha, and Sixth Street construction, Saturday's Gallery Night will likely bring something new to all of Racine's art fans.

"The people of Racine seem to really embrace the arts," Shawhan said. "A lot of them tell me about their experiences in pottery and even raku firing. I think that says a lot for the role our schools and art museum - the Wustum and (Racine Art Museum) - do to expose the arts to our young and old. Our investment in the arts is what makes our community stand out from others cities the same size."

Galleries, workshops

Gallery Night Participating galleries and workshops include:

* 716 Fine Art, 401 Main St.

* Artists Gallery, 312 Sixth St.

* Art Metals Studio, 332 Main St.

* Avenue Gallery and Frame, 402 Main St.

* Cobblestone Art & Framing, 415 Sixth St

* Elements, 409 Sixth St.

* Funky Hannah's Beads & Art, 324 Main St.

* Hot Shop Glass Studio & Gallery, 239 Wisconsin Ave.

* E. H. Mathis II Conservation Framing, 328 Main St.

* Monfort's Fine Art, 430 Main St.

* Northern Lights Gallery, 423 Main St.

* Photographic Design Studio, 411 Sixth St

* Plumb Gold Ltd., 322 Main St.

* Racine Arts Council, 505 Sixth St

* Racine Art Museum, 441 Main St.

* Upstairs Gallery Vintage Art, 402 Main St.

More About Elements

For more information about Elements, call Shawhan at (262) 617-0691.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony Shawhan is offering a 20 percent discount on any raku works in the Gallery.

http://www.theelementsgallery.com

Sixth Street Construction Timeline

March 3 to May 5: Entirely closed from Monument Square Drive to Park Avenue.

May 5 to July 3: Entirely closed from Park Avenue to Grand Avenue.