In San Diego, the month of April is fast becoming associated with art – and much of that is thanks to ArtWalk, the annual two-day festival held in Little Italy.

ArtWalk draws browsers, music lovers, foodies, sun worshippers and art collectors alike, featuring hundreds of emerging and established visual artists, along with five stages of performing arts. The free event takes place this Saturday and Sunday, from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.

Now in its 21st year, ArtWalk is growing yet again. Ivy Street has been added to the footprint, with room for an additional 50 artists and a main stage. The usual favorites are back – like KidsWalk, offering hands-on art experiences for kids at the northwest corner of Fir and India – along with some new features. In the KPBS Umbrella Project, 11 artists transformed seven-foot patio umbrellas into original works of art for auction. The painted umbrellas will be on view at ArtWalk, and bidding will continue throughout the festival. Proceeds benefit KPBS.

Attendees will also take in some music and dance, and acrobatics courtesy of iL CiRCo. The troupe produces the Cirque de la Mer show at SeaWorld, and will perform 20-minute previews of their upcoming touring show in a mix of acrobatics and commedia dell’arte. Some of the musicians scheduled to appear include Carol Ames, Peter Hall, Gregory Page, Saba, Billy Shaddox and Pete Thurston.

Then there are the shops, bars and restaurants of Little Italy that give this street festival its unique flavor.

“It really gives people an opportunity to explore this wonderful community that we’re located in. Little Italy is just blossoming every week,” said Sandi Cottrell, ArtWalk managing director. “One of the benefits of coming to ArtWalk is just being able to appreciate what’s here in Little Italy. It gets better and better every single year.”

Still, ArtWalk is primarily about the visual art – and includes just about everything from painting, sculpture and photography to digital imagery, architecture, design and more. The festival provides a unique opportunity for patrons to meet and get to know artists in a relaxed, fun environment.

“We have a tagline that says, ‘Be original, buy original,’ and I like that because it’s really what ArtWalk is all about,” Cottrell said. “A lot of people maybe have never ventured into a gallery – there’s that intimidation factor that comes along with that. In this setting they’re dealing directly with artists, finding out about them and their work.”

Because ArtWalk takes art out of the hallowed walls of the gallery, the artists’ works are exposed to a broad range of people.

“ArtWalk brings in people of diverse backgrounds from all over San Diego County, even from Tijuana,” said Grant Pecoff, an ArtWalk featured artist. “You’re exposed to so many people and they’re interacting with your art. It really gives you the chance to get exposure to the whole community.”

The 12 featured artists are chosen from among the hundreds of participating artists, and their work is featured prominently on the ArtWalk website and magazine.

Pecoff’s colorful, playful paintings are inspired by his world travels and exude a sense of joy and vibrancy. The San Diego-born painter, who now lives in the Bahamas, has participated in ArtWalk for the last five years.

“It’s been a definite positive experience,” Pecoff said. “I flew in just for this event, because it reaches so many people, and it’s great for them to see all the different kinds of art that people are putting out there.”

The event draws more than 70,000 people to the streets of Little Italy, and for an emerging artist, that kind of exposure is hard to come by. Participating artists pay just $375 for a 10-by-10-foot tent for the weekend.

“We’ve tried to keep costs as low as possible for artists,” Cottrell said. “One of the great things about ArtWalk is we have everything from artists who sell their paintings for many thousands of dollars to quite a number of artists each year that have never sold their art. And because it’s relatively inexpensive for them to participate and because we don’t go through a really strict jurying process, it allows a lot of artists to make that leap of faith and exhibit their work to the public.”

For Lynden Saint Victor, another ArtWalk featured artist, accessibility and forming relationships with patrons are the most important aspects of the event. ArtWalk is about “connecting with people, more than anything,” he said. “My goal is for people to have my art in their homes.”

Saint Victor will offer 17 original pieces and several limited-edition prints of his surreal, moody work. The event allows Saint Victor to form direct relationships with patrons without having to go through the intermediary of galleries. Collectors who buy his work at ArtWalk also get first rights to buy new pieces.

The growing popularity and size of ArtWalk may be indicative of a maturing artistic community in San Diego, a city known more for its sunny weather than its art.

“ArtWalk one of best shows I’ve ever done,” Saint Victor said. “I think San Diego is a tremendous community for art all around. It may not have the reputation of New York, but I think a lot of higher-quality artists are starting to come here. ArtWalk opened a new street this year, and it’s because some serious artists are coming from all over the country for this show.”

For specific scheduling and event information, pick up a copy of ArtWalk Magazine. The publication, which also contains articles and color photos of work by featured artists, is available at Starbucks, as well as at Barnes & Noble and Bookstar bookstores. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the ArtWalk website.