Art Weekend in NWA

It’s art time in Northwest Arkansas. The Prairie Grove Clothesline Fair and the Fayetteville Arts Festival are the two big shows, but there are plenty of other arts events going on in and around Fayetteville this weekend.

This first weekend of the Fayetteville Arts Festival focuses on the visual arts. Next weekend will pay tribute to the performing arts. In addition to the FAF events at the Fayetteville Town Center, artists in the Mill District will hold open studios, with the Heartwood Gallery hosting a Street Fair on Saturday and an open house on Sunday. Art Market will take place Saturday night at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parrish Hall in downtown Fayetteville. For a complete schedule see page 14.

This weekend also marks the opening of a new art gallery in Prairie Grove, the Citizens Bank Gallery.

While the FAF leans more toward fine art, the Prairie Grove Clothesline Fair—56 years strong—is best known for its traditional arts and crafts. This is where you’ll find woodcarvings and quilts and exhibits of antique farming equipment along with handmade jewelry and pottery. Two hundred vendors are slated to attend. Like the FAF, the Clothesline Fair draws local artists and artists from surrounding states. The fair is held on the grounds of the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park on U.S. 62 W. near Farmington. Take a lunch or buy from a fair vendor and enjoy a picnic in the park. This fair has spawned lots of yard sales along the highway, so if you’re a “saler,” budget time for some extra stops.

Prairie Grove Clothesline Fair
Saturday
7:30 a.m.- 5K and 1-mile run
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Arts and crafts booths
9 a.m. – Parade from downtown Prairie Grove to the fair
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Live music
3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Square dance exhibition

Sunday
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arts and crafts booths
7 p.m. – Gospel music

Monday
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.– Arts and crafts booths
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Live music
3:30 and 7 p.m. – Gospel music

Citizens Bank Gallery
It’s not a bank, but it used to be. It’s also been a jewelry store, a floral shop and a church. The 1905 building at 116 E. Buchanan St. in downtown Prairie Grove will now become an art gallery named for its original tenant, the Citizens Bank. The gallery is owned by Carmen and Chris Weaver who have been involved in the arts for more than 30 years.

Carmen graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute and the University of Denver. Chris, a sculptor, is also a graduate of KCAI and has a masters degree from the New York College of Ceramics. He has taught at the University of Nebraska, Creighton University, University of New Mexico and Louisiana State University.

Featured for the grand opening this Friday night will be Chris’ sculptures along with paintings by Jan Gosnell. Gosnell—who is the Free Weekly cartoonist—graduated from the University of Texas and has a masters degree from the University of Arkansas. He has taught at the University of Mississippi and formerly owned an art school and gallery in Mountain Home. He has worked as a commercial artist, has won several first place awards for his editorial cartoons and has contributed work for three films.

The grand opening reception will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For information call 846-0899.

Fayetteville Arts Festival
Weekend One Schedule

Below is the schedule of activities for weekend one of the Fayetteville Arts Festival, along with other art activities taking place in Fayetteville this weekend. See next week’s Free Weekly for the weekend two FAF schedule. For art events happening in Prairie Grove this weekend see Highlights.

Today
ddp gallery at 7 E. Mountain St. – Reception for Megan Chapman and Helen Phillips. 5 to 8 p.m.

Friday
Walton Arts Center, 495 W Dickson St. – Reception for RuAnn Ewing. 5 to 7 p.m.

Megan Chapman, Helen Phillips exhibit at ddp gallery. Noon to 7 p.m.

Open Space Art Party, Fayetteville Town Center 15 W. Mountain St. 7 to 10:00 p.m. Preview the Fayetteville Art Festival exhibit, with music and entertainment by North Arkansas Symphony String Quartet, McCleod/Reyes Jazz Duo, Kris Stoker & Friends Comedy Improv, TheatreSquared. $50 at the door.

Saturday
Fayetteville Arts Festival
Fayetteville Town Center 15 W Mountain St. Free

Exhibits:
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Art by 40 artists selected for the 2007 festival

Entertainment:
9 a.m. – Josiah Foster
10 a.m. – Reese Neal
11 a.m. – Poetry open ic
Noon – Shout Lulu
1 p.m. – Kahula Gypsy Band
2 p.m. – Hembree Blain
3 p.m. – Effron White
4 p.m. Poetry open mic

Activities:
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Empty Bowls Project. Paint a bowl to be used at a fundraiser for the Seven Hills Homeless Shelter.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Tell your story or perform for CAT, Fayetteville’s Community Access Television station.

Demonstrations:
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
– Boston Mountain Potters Association
– New Design Center hands-on online diggiti/computer graphics workshops

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet the stars of the Communication Arts Institute’s Chewy Café TV series.

Jammin’ Java 21 W Mountain St.
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Live bluegrass and acoustic music. Free.

New Design Center 572 W. 6th St.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Little Mountain Bindery papermaking demonstrations and workshops. Exhibit of art by local artists. Free.

Heartwood Gallery 428 S. Government St.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Street Art Show and Open House at the Fayetteville artists collective, with live music and demonstrations by Ed Pennebaker and Ed Hejtmanek. Free.

Hammer and Chisel 412 S. Government St.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Hammer and Chisel Open House – Timberframing demonstration using traditional tools

ddp gallery 7 East Mountain St.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Exhibit by Megan Chapman and Helen Philips

The Art Experience 641 W. 6th St.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Open House with demonstrations and art activities

Hank Kaminsky Studio 808 S. Government St.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Open House with studio and foundry tours

Art Market, at St. Paul’s Parrish Hall, 224 N. East St.
5 to 10 p.m. Art by 14 local artists.

Sunday
Fayetteville Town Center

Exhibits:
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Art by 40 artists selected for the 2007 festival.

Entertainment:
11 a.m. – Poetry open mic
Noon – Kahula Gypsy Band
1 p.m. – Mike and Maliah
2 p.m. – Zydeco Dance Party, with Snake Eyes and the Bug Band

Activities:
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Empty Bowls Project. Paint a bowl to be used at a fundraiser for the Seven Hills Homeless Shelter.
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Tell your story or perform for CAT, Fayetteville’s Community Access Television station.

Demonstrations:
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Boston Mountain Potters Association

Heartwood Gallery
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Heartwood Gallery Open House, with lithograph press demonstrations by Richard Stauffacher and open studio with
Ed Hejtmanek.