May Festival of the Arts

Castle Rogues Manor in Beaver AR will present a two day May Festival of the Arts exhibit event with free admission to exhibits of exotic art & hand-crafted exotic clothing and accessories.

Saturday & Sunday, May 28 & 29 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Open to the public.

Jennifer Janesco - 2010 Calender cover art

This year’s group exhibition, “Pinups, Pushups & Glamorous Art”, will be headlined by Internationally acclaimed pinup artist Jennifer Janesko.

Jennifer’s unique paintings have been featured in popular magazines such as Maxim and Playboy as well as appearing in feature films and national television shows and International publications. During the exhibition Jennifer will be on hand to sign autographs and answer questions about her work.

Other Exhibiting Artists include:
Larry Mansker – local Eureka Springs artist who will be exhibiting some of his lesser known nude painting,

Photographer Jeremy Mason McGraw, from 'Eternal Beauty'

Jeremy Mason McGraw – International Photographer Jeremy Mason McGraw will be premiering a brand new concept collection of Photography called “Eternal Beauty”. The exhibition highlights the stunning glamorous photography of an alternate dark world ruled by immortal demons and vampires. These images,  from their top fashion magazine (Eternal Beauty) shed a light on spectacular and sometimes gruesome pastimes and culture of this predator society as it paints faint parallels to the concept of beauty in our own world. This collection was a collaboration between Jeremy and Universal Studios makeup artist LuAndra Whitehurst. The images were shot in and around Eureka Springs utilizing models and artists from Eureka Springs and Fayetteville, AR and Joplin, MO. Be one of the first to see it at Castle Rogue’s Manor!

Sharon Crystal – exhibiting ‘pirate bodices’, handmade brocade and velveteen corsets

Stella Ipswitch – exhibiting handcrafted ‘highfallutin’ Designer Hats

Jeff Horist – exhibiting leather craft including hand-crafted leather armor.

Jeff is a highly accomplished leather-smith who’s work is highly sought after by collectors all over the world. The signature examples of his leather artistry are his amazing full leather suites of armor. Due to health reasons Jeff has not done a public exhibition in seven years. Do not miss this rare chance to meet Jeff and see the some of his most recent creations in person.

and Debbie Sederstrom – exhibits her unique chain-mail jewelry.

The free exhibition and sale is open to the public. Saturday & Sunday 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Castle Rogues Manor in Beaver Arkansas. (just outside of Eureka Springs) For directions to Castle Rogue’s Manor visit the website.

Best selling author, journalist and baby boomer expert, Gail Sheehy will be making a presentation at the May 16th Books in Bloom event in an early time slot than previously posted.

Sheehy’s talk on her newest book, Passages in Caregiving: Turning Chaos into Confidence, has been rescheduled from the 4:00-4:45 slot and will now be presented in the Conservatory (or Crystal Dining Room in the event or rain) from 1:00 – 1:45 PM. Nevada Barr, New York Times bestselling author and favored speaker to the fine arts community, originally scheduled for 1:00, will be presenting Life’s A Mystery at 4:00 pm.

Events throughout the Festival from Noon – 5:00 will be held in the Faculty Lounge, in The Conservatory and in the Reader’s Tent on the grounds of the 1886 Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs. More details on the website.

On Thursday, May 13th, as the sun slips behind the Ozark Mountains and dusk settles upon Eureka Springs, the inaugural Eureka Springs Grand Illumination will commence with a lighting ceremony on the great lawn of the historic Crescent Hotel…and so will begin yet another tradition that we hope will last for many years: recognizing Eureka Springs’ Luminary Of The Year.

The Luminary Of The Year is a recognition bestowed upon an individual from the greater Eureka Spring area for their selfless efforts towards the betterment of our community.

The 2010 Luminary of the year is Dee Bright. Dee is being recognized for the scores of hours she devotes to public service each year. In addition to serving as president of The Eureka Springs Preservation Society, Dee also sits on the Historic District Commission and is actively involved in the Eureka Springs Downtown Network. Dee and her husband Rick own two B&Bs in Eureka Springs; The Eureka Springs Hideaway and The Border House.

1886 Historic Crescent Hotel

This ceremony is free and open to the public. We encourage you to join us on the great lawn of The Crescent Hotel, Thursday, May 13th from 8-9pm. Dress is summer casual. There will be light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.

At approximately 8:30pm, the Luminary Of The Year will ‘throw the switch’ an officially light the inaugural Eureka Springs Grand Illumination.

The 6th annual Books in Bloom event in Eureka Springs brings together accomplished authors, booklovers, and writers in a lovely, informal ‘garden-party’ setting at the 1886 Crescent Hotel Sunday, May 16th from Noon to 5 PM.

With a reputation for attracting big name authors, Books in Bloom has captured the attention of booklovers throughout the state, and this year is no exception. Gail Sheehy, famed author of “Passages,” will be one of the featured speakers, along with Nevada Barr, Steve Berry, Michael Shelden, and Arkansas historian, columnist and author, Tom Dillard.

“People tell us that they can’t believe the level of talent we are able to present,” said Lin Wellford, co-chair of the festival. “It’s almost a year-round effort, and sometimes it takes years to convince an author to come. Nevada Barr turned us down several times. This year she accepted, telling us she admired our persistence!”

In addition, one of this year’s authors, Steve Berry, has offered his services to present a writer’s workshop while he is in the area. The day-long workshop will benefit the Carroll County Historical Society, and takes place on Saturday, May 15, at the Grand View Hotel on the square in Berryville.

Books in Bloom at 1886 Crescent Hotel

Along with scheduled author talks in the conservatory, the gardens surrounding the Crescent Hotel will be filled with local and regional authors and publishers. There will be on-going readings and book signings throughout the afternoon.

“The University of Arkansas Press always has a booth, and they offer some wonderful bargains during our festival,” said Jean Elderwind, who serves as co-chair and also administrator or the Carroll and Madison Public Library System. “In fact, they’ve told us Books in Bloom is one of their best scheduled events. Tim Ernst will also join us this year. His books are well known and wildly popular among our attendees.”

Festival-goers are encouraged to come early and take advantage of a free shuttle service provided to ease traffic congestion. Refreshments will be available throughout the day, provided by Friends of the Library members.

The festival will take place rain or shine, moving onto the hotel veranda, with additional covered space provided by the hotel in case of showers.

Books in Bloom is a project of the Carroll and Madison Public Library Foundation. Visit website for further details.

The Center for Soulful Living is celebrating the grand opening of the Open-Air Meditation Sanctuary (OMS) and the first annual Festival of Humanity May 28 – 30. The public is invited for outdoor fun and a dynamic exchange of energy and ideas on group evolution.

The OMS is a 10-acre meadow and woodland park featuring 14 cultivated meditation areas connected by walking trails. This sacred space is intended for contemplation, walking, play, intentional gatherings and ceremonies, transformational art, nature discovery, and advancing our evolutionary possibilities.

You are invited to visit for a few hours or for the entire weekend: Participate in Wisdom Sharing Circles exploring transformative living, the integration of wisdom and the arts, and the 7 Principles and 28 Rites of Group Evolution; Be inspired by original Prayerformances presented by the Shaumbra Dance Theater Company of Consciousness; Enjoy an herb walk or guided walking meditation; Treat yourself to nourishing vegan cuisine; Join in an evening drum circle; Take a torchlight tour; Add your aspiration and intention to a group World Service Meditation.

For more information visit website or call Heidi at 479-363-7024.

Come spend a Saturday exploring the history and beauty of these unique locations. You can enjoy a great hike in the city limits of Eureka Springs – these 4 sites are a part of the East Mountain and Water Street areas and feature historic stonework and natural beauty. Bring your camera and share your vision!

Meet at the base of Jacob’s Ladder on Flint Street at 10:00 am and progress through each site completing your photo tour no later than 2:00. Locations include: Cave Spring, Cold Spring, Laundry Spring and Jacob’s Ladder.

click to view large

All photographers are invited to submit an image from each location for possible inclusion in a photo exhibit at the Bank of Eureka Historical Museum downtown on May 15th as a part of the May Festival of the Arts.

April 17, 2010 – 10am-2pm (April 24 rain date)
Sponsored by the Eureka Springs Outdoor Alliance
For more information on this May Festival of the Arts event, contact Lorri Carter.

A fine art limited edition print of the 2010 May Festival of the Arts poster will be available during the month of May at various locations in downtown Eureka Springs including the member galleries of the Eureka Springs Gallery Association.

Fine Art editions of the 2010 May Festival of the Arts poster will be available in May

The contest for this year’s poster was presented by the Eureka Springs Arts Council and the CAPC, with the theme of “Harmony’ for the 23rd Annual May Festival of the Arts.

Edward C. Robison III submitted the winning design in the poster design contest. Edward’s poster, based on an original photograph, was among ten entries submitted. See more of Robison’s work at his photography website.

Eureka Springs will welcome spring with a citywide display of colorful paper lanterns as vibrant and exciting as the city’s famous spring flowers. The inaugural Eureka Springs Grand Illumination will take place in the middle of Eureka’s May Festival Of The Arts over the weekend of May 13th-16th.

Downtown Eureka will be aglow with thousands of brilliant paper lanterns, day and night, as will many of the city’s stately Victorian homes. In addition to the beautiful displays other Eureka Springs Grand Illumination activities include paper lantern painting for kids in Basin Spring Park.

Grand Illumination on Martha's Vineyard features Chinese & Japanese painted lanterns grandly visible night and day.

The event is patterned after the century-old Grand Illumination of the cottage-city gingerbread homes on Martha’s Vineyard. (see photo)

Visitors to Eureka Springs that weekend are encouraged to bring cameras, or paints and easel, to capture the homes, gardens and businesses in illumination. For more information about this May Festival of the Arts event, contact David Graupner – (479) 981-4355 – Email David or visit the Eureka Springs Grand Illumination website.

May 1 – May 31, 2010 – the 23rd annual month long festival opens with the ARTrageous Parade at 2:00 pm on Saturday May 1st.

Our full calendar is being developed. If you are sponsoring any art related event you would like to have appear on our calendar, please contact webmaster.