May Festival of the Arts

Artifacts Gallery, in their new locations at 37 Spring St (upstairs), will host a MEET THE ARTIST event: 4:00 – 8:00 during the Saturday Gallery Stroll, May 19th.

Folk Artist Kim Kenney will be demonstrating woodworking and exhibiting her newest turned pieces from 4:00-6:00 and available to visit with gallery visitors also from 6:00-8:00.

Kim Kenney - woodworking

~ Artist’ Statement ~
Late in the summer of 2008 I happened to meet one of the Ozarks finest artists, Jerry Crowe. I have long admired his “Unique Turnings”; what he can create from a chunk of wood has always amazed me! I asked him if he could teach me to turn wood and he graciously agreed. I met him at his shop on a Saturday morning and he hasn’t been able to get rid of me since! I am totally enthralled with turning.

When I first approach a newly cut “blank” and set it between centers on the lathe I feel both excitement and fear. Excitement in wondering what kind of marvelous form is waiting to emerge from the blank canvas; fear that I will ruin it before I can determine what it wants to become.

I feel that we are blessed to be able to produce art with “green” properties by using one of Mother Nature’s most renewable resources – the local timber of our beautiful Ozarks hills. Because of the natural properties of burl wood, just like snowflakes, no two will ever be identical. I can take no credit for the natural beauty of the wood; I simply expose what was hiding there all along.

In January 2012, I left the corporate world and became a full-time wood turner. I believe my finished turnings, rather than my words, reveal my passion for this art form. I hope you enjoy touching them and holding them as much as I have enjoyed my part in creating them!

Location: Artifacts Folk & Fine Art Gallery
37 Spring Street (upstairs)
479-363-6660 Sharon Roos

Artifacts Gallery, in their new locations at 37 Spring St (upstairs), will host Craig Hirsch and Lorna Trigg at a MEET THE ARTIST event: 4:00-6:00 during the Saturday Gallery Stroll downtown event, May 5th.

Folk Artists Craig Hirsch & Lorna Trigg who will demonstrate their flutes & drums and lead interactive flute/drum workshop.

~ Lorna Trigg, ceramic artist, was born in South Africa and immigrated to the USA in 1988. Her life as an artist began at a early age, sitting in mud puddles making sculptures and progressing to studies with the indigenous peoples of South Africa, learning traditional styles of working with natural materials. Lorna’s sculptural work is highly influenced by her surroundings and intention to live in and around nature.
Lorna is a Creativity and Movement Facilitator. Her life long study has focused on the use of rhythm instruments, and dance of indigenous people. She has been influenced by the use of percussion for healing and dance, and builds drums that relate especially to Women’s drumming around the globe.
~ Craig Hirsch, professional instrument builder, specializing in Flutes. Craig’s work in creating this specific type of wind instrument has spanned more than 30yrs. His materials of choice are Asian Bamboo, for Transverse and Indigenous style End Blown flutes, as well as Stoneware Clay for Ocarina’s and Porcelain for Transverse style flutes.  His flutes are tuned to a specific concert pitch in a diatonic and pentatonic scale. Music created by his instruments can be heard on many recordings by professional musicians.  Craig’s focus is to help people place their breath, thus making them more aware of their breathing, and the correct use of the breath, which leads to a more energized and healthier lifestyle. Craig has conducted workshops in schools, mental health institutes, yoga studios, complimentary therapy retreats and corporate facilities in the United States, Canada and South Africa.

Location: Artifacts Folk & Fine Art Gallery
37 Spring Street (upstairs)
479-363-6660 Sharon Roos

Artifacts Gallery, in their new locations at 37 Spring St (upstairs), will host Lisa Bauer at a MEET THE ARTIST event: 6:00-9:00 during the Saturday Gallery Stroll, May 5th.

Fine Artist Lisa Bauer will demonstrate her painting and show her newest paintings and works in progress.

~ Lisa Bauer Artist Statement ~
I don’t go too far into fantasy with my work, although it does evoke imagination. I personally enjoy the feeling if only briefly, of being able to escape into the scene I’ve created. I hope my work will open the imagination and give you the viewer a time to dream. Maybe I’m an escape artist?! I’ve been told you can read whole stories into my paintings, moving the mind and the senses … I like that.

Location: Artifacts Folk & Fine Art Gallery
37 Spring Street (upstairs)
479-363-6660 Sharon Roos

Entries are now being accepted for the 2012 May Festival of the Arts poster design contest.

The design should be in an 11×17 inch format and contain the words:
“25th Annual May Festival of the Arts”
“Eureka Springs, Arkansas”
“May 2012″
Only original artwork will be accepted. Previous winners must wait 2 years before re-entering.
Designs should be submitted on disc in high-resolution jpeg format and be print-ready (300 dpi). Lettering may be done “by hand” or computer generated. An entry form should accompany the CD. The contest is open to residents of Carroll County. The winning entry will receive $250 and the winning design will be used in May Festival of the Arts 2012 advertisements and promotions.

Entries should be dropped off at the Mayor’s office, Eureka Springs City Hall, on or before the January 15th, 2012 deadline.

Entries may also be mailed to:

Eureka Springs City Hall,
Mayor’s Office, 44 S Main,
Eureka Springs, AR, 72632
(Please mark package “May Festival of the Arts”)

To receive an entry form email Zeek Tayor or call 479-253-9318

2009 8'x8' panel by Wendi Lafey - Dandelion Season

The Mayor’s Arts Council of Eureka Springs is revitalizing the space located in the First Street parking lot. The unveiling of the Eureka Springs Art Park will be May 19th, 2012, during the 25th annual May Festival of the Arts.

The new Eureka Springs Art Park, located in downtown Eureka Springs, will be similar to a previous exhibit, the Artery, and will consist of art and photography panels attached to the concrete wall in the parking area.

The art-panels will be two-dimensional in any media that is weather resistant (including photography) and will be created by artists from NW Arkansas. Artists living and/or exhibiting in the counties of Carroll, Benton, Madison, and Washington, are invited to submit a scaled design for consideration for the Art Park. The panels will be either four by eight feet, or four by four feet, and submitted designs should be scaled in proportion (example, 4×8 inches or 4×4 inches.)

The theme for the panels will be “Spirit of the Ozarks” as interpreted by the artist. (For example, thematic ideas may include Ozark landmarks, history, culture, music, diversity, nature, roots).

The artwork will remain on view for a period of not less than one-year, and possibly as long as two years. The panels will be offered for sale with the artist receiving 70% of the purchase price. The remaining 30% of sales revenue will go to the Mayor’s Arts Council’s public art fund.

The deadline for submission is January 30, 2012. The deadline for delivery of the final art work is April 22, 2012.
Artists interested in submitting a design for consideration or to receive the information packet, should contact Sandy Martin or call 479-244-6636.

Plan now to attend the 25th annual May Festival of the Arts in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

The Eureka Springs Mayor’s Art Council is please to announce the May Festival of the Arts 2011 ARTrageous Parade Winners:

• Best Walking/Music Group – Angelo Yao’s African Dancers and Drummers
• Best Float/Car – Ricky Millwagon and David Roll for the entry “Springtime Hybrid”
• Best Costume – Mark Hughes won in the for his Butterfly Boy costume

African drummers and dancers

Springtime Hybrid

Butterfly Boy

See more photos of ARTrageous Parade at this page.

PHOTOS taken at Basin Park Saturday (copyright C.Morin) –

Prev|Next

The Eureka Springs Downtown Network has announced the 2011 Grand Illumination winner:

In the Business category the winners are:

• 3rd Place: Fantasy & Stone
• 2nd Place: Practical Magic Art Supply
• 1st Place: Regalia Handmade Clothing

and Overall brightest light: Zeek Taylor!

Practical Magic Art Supply

Click image for larger view.

Regalia Handmade

Eureka Springs Downtown Network also congratulates the following B&B’s for their award winning displays:
3rd Place: 5 Ojo Inn Bed and Breakfast
2nd Place: Heart of the Hills Inn
1st Place: Gilded Lily – The Gilded Lily also won the B&B Associations Award!

As a part of the 24th annual May Festival of the Arts, the Eureka Springs Mayor’s Art Council is hosting a fabulous show of art created by Eureka Springs artists. The show is being staged in the gallery space in the garden level of the newly renovated Queen Anne Mansion and will be open throughout the month of May.

photo by Rick Armellini

This year the work of almost 50 painters, photographers, wood workers and sculptors is on display. Zeek Taylor, chairperson of the Mayor’s Art Council and an exhibiting artist in the show, said “ This show demonstrates the quality and breadth of art in Eureka Springs. It is truly an amazing collection of art.”

The show is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM (closed Wednesdays) and can be viewed as part of a tour of the Queen Anne Mansion or separately. Visitors to the show will be asked to vote for their favorite artwork, with the winning artist receiving a $1000 prize.

The Eureka Springs Invitational Art Show is presented with the co-operation of Cornerstone Bank, the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa, and the Queen Anne Mansion House Museum, located at 115 W. Van Buren (U.S. Hwy 62).

For more information about the exhibit email artineureka@gmail.com, phone 479-253-6164.