The people of West Seattle ArtWalk and ArtsWest are working together to create a combined art walk in the Alaska Junction.

Currently, the two groups appeal to different crowds. The West Seattle ArtWalk targets younger community members. On the second Thursday of every month, local businesses open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to showcase the work of local artists.

Lora Vickrey, vice president of the West Seattle Junction Association, owns Hotwire Coffeehouse, one of the businesses that participate in the walk.

"We have a group of about 15 merchants who have dedicated themselves to the local art community," she said. "It's important that this community event be available."

Right now, the ArtWalk has about 20 working artists. Walking maps are delivered to the participating businesses 10 days before the monthly event.

ArtsWest is the umbrella organization for the ArtsWest Artists' Association. It places artists' work in businesses that are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nichole DeMent, gallery director at ArtsWest, said this show appeals to an older clientele.

"These are the people who like to shop during the day, whereas the West Seattle ArtWalk appeals to the younger crowd who are out at night at the boutique-y restaurants and stores," she said.

Although it would seem the two groups might compete with each other, Vickrey said that is not the case.

"We are complementary of each other's events," she said. "I've learned in this business it's important to play well with others."

However, DeMent said there isn't a need for two separate events.

"We're trying to work with a very new market," she said. "We're looking for that middle ground between the two groups. Art extends to both young and old, and the artists need both of them."

That's why the two groups are working to combine their efforts to appeal to the entire West Seattle community. Vickrey said the two groups will be joining together at the end of the year for a combined holiday show. By 2008, she said they hope to have a joint ArtWalk with extended hours that appeal to both age groups.

"The idea is to bring art and the community together," she said.

DeMent agrees.

"We want to bring the creativity of these artists to the community," she said. "There is an interaction between these two age groups in the community happening right now and we're really trying to make it work."

Holly Gordon is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory and she may be contacted via wseditor@robinsonnews.com