After years of sponsorship from local businesses and organizations, Denise Fairweather knew that Januarys Seaside First Saturday Art Walk would be different.

It was uncharted territory, she said.

At least 60 art lovers visited Fairweathers retail store and art gallery, Fairweather House and Garden, and the Gilbert District Art Gallery, the two galleries that participated in the art walk on Jan. 4.

Patrons experienced the full art walk atmosphere: art for sale, wine to drink and demonstrations by local artists, who interact with gallery-goers while creating their original works.

It was diminished art walk participation that caused the Seaside Chamber of Commerce to end its sponsorship of the event after December. The November art walk featured only three galleries: Fairweather, Trails End Art Association in Gearhart and Yummy Wine Bar and Bistro in Seaside.

Our board of directors reviewed a lot of our events, and because of low participation numbers among members, we decided to focus our efforts on the arts by participating in an arts council that Clatsop County is starting instead of supporting the art walk, said Laura Kaim, the chambers events coordinator.

Kaim was referring to the Arts Council of Clatsop County, a nascent ad hoc county-wide arts council spearheaded by Astoria City Councilor Drew Herzig, Clatsop County Manager Scott Somers, Clatsop Economic Development Resources Director Kevin Leahy and other community leaders.

The arts council will meet at noon Jan. 13 at the CEDR offices in Seaside before presenting its plan to the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 22.

In an Oct. 30 letter to chamber members, chamber Executive Director Susan Huntington said the chamber was hoping that our gallery members might continue some form of the art walk on your own, which is just what Fairweather has done.

Fairweather has been involved in the art walk since its inception over eight years ago, and she thinks that Seasides art scene is poised for many more good years to come.

This is the arts community to be in, she said. Ive never looked back.

Putting the galleries themselves in charge of the event is a return to form for the art walk, which was founded by Sun Rose Gallery owners Cathy and Ray Tippin.

Originally the galleries did the art walk, Fairweather said.

Fairweather believes that detaching the event from the chamber could allow more galleries to participate.

What we want to do is to open it up to everyone, without dues and membership, she said.

Though it is no longer the official sponsor, the chamber still will support the art walk by providing all the materials we have and by offering our copier for your use to do so, according to Huntingtons letter.

Were still supporting Denise and her ventures to keep the art walk going, but the chamber itself is going to be involved in the ad hoc committee, Kaim said.

The transition has been a smooth one, according to Fairweather, with the chamber turning the events Facebook page, followers and logo over to her for continued use.

For her part, Fairweather thinks the galleries are the ideal organizers of the monthly art walk.

We do it well, she said. We do it better, I think.

Though the number of galleries was low on Jan. 4, Fairweather was heartened by the number and diversity of guests: an estimated 60 guests attended, hailing from cities as far-flung as Brooklyn, N.Y.; Savannah, Ga.; and Shanghai.

These gallery-goers were treated to a quick finish, on-site painting by local artist Kimberly Reed, who started and finished her painting Tranquil at Fairweathers gallery, and new photos from local nature photographer Neal Maine, among others.

For Fairweather, it was a success and a reminder of just how enlivening an art walk can be.

Art walk to us is live theater, she said We never know whos going to walk through the door.

The Seaside First Saturday Art Walk continues from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 1, in downtown Seaside. Visitors will have a chance to win two tickets to the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District Foundations A Sweet Affaire fundraiser on Feb. 16 at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center.

For more information on the Seaside First Saturday Art Walk, visit its Facebook page.