Belly dancers, bongo players and jazz musicians lined Walnut Street Thursday night for the fifth annual ArtsWalk.
The cultural event, which continues tonight from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., has grown every year since its inception, Cheryl Crowder, director of special events for Downtown Development, said.
"People and businesses see how well it does and are more willing to participate," Crowder said.
The Mitchell Place gallery featured electronic art exhibits which combine various media into a finished product, Andy Bond, graduate electronic art and animation student, said.
"We're trying to be on the cutting edge of all technologies," he said.
Electronic art combines computer animation, video, imaging and interactive art, he said.
Encaustic painting images and demonstrations were displayed at the Artist Within. Encaustic painting uses melted wax and cools in minutes, forcing the artist to alter the image depending on how the wax changes and reacts.
Encaustic paintings have been created as early as 5th century B.C., according to Artlex, an online art dictionary.
Senior art major Cara Broniszewski said she had never done or even heard of encaustic painting before enrolling in the class this semester, and while she does like being challenged with the art form, it can be frustrating.
"With encaustic I feel my intended image doesn't turn out," she said.
Reflex, an improvisational group comprised of theater majors and one telecommunications major, also performed at ArtsWalk.
Karen Kessler, faculty adviser for Reflex, said the group rehearses once a week and performs twice a semester.
The students play improvisational games such as those seen on "Whose Line is it Anyway?", she said.
"They are great kids and they have a great time doing this," she said.
Students of all ages had positive feedback about the experience.
"It's a nice way to see what is downtown," freshman elementary education major Megan Goodwin said.
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