Sophie's Gallery & Gift Shop, operated by St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, will host its 12th Annual Alley Cat Art Walk, a free family-friendly art event in the Historic El Cajon Downtown Arts District, on Friday, September 15, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Local art galleries, art studios, a museum, and other local small businesses invite the public to discover the arts in Downtown El Cajon while enjoying fine art, crafts, live music, and refreshments. There will be several fine art shows during the event, including The Music in Me at Sophie’s Gallery - a collection of hand-painted musical instruments, musical-inspired prints, and mosaic art; Color at Silver Creek Fine Art & Gallery; Beyond Impressionism at The East County Art Association; and a display of contemporary Native American themed art at the Wieghorst Museum. This year, Sophie’s Gallery is excited to feature artwork from artbrutkorea, a collective of South Korean artists on the autism spectrum who are participating in the group show, The Music in Me. Along with the collection of hand-painted instruments, the show also includes unique instrument prints, up-cycled CD weavings, hand-embroidered iron-on patches, kumihimo braided guitar & bag straps, and more. The Historic Downtown El Cajon hosts many events, small businesses, restaurants, galleries, museums, and murals all within walking distance, making for a memorable visit. Alongside many food and drink options, the festival will also feature beer tasting hosted by the El Cajon German American Societies Inc. Sophie’s Gallery & Gift Shop is a program of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, which serves more than 400 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through nationally recognized, innovative programs. Its mission is to educate and empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to realize their full potential. Intellectual and developmental disabilities include autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other cognitive disorders.
