Art Attack – What a difference a week makes
John Rankine
5/16/2013
A pox on the vandal or vandals who decided it would be fun to tear down a whole bunch of MUGS posters last week. I do believe in Karma, I do believe in Karma.
Perfect weather made for a perfect, albeit brief, Artrageous Parade. Unfortunately due to last week’s weather SNAFU many people, including our high school band, had re-scheduling conflicts.
Bravo to Edward and Ethan Robison, the father-son unicycle team whose green apple juggling homage to Magritte was brilliant, proving that talent and creativity can easily compete with size and big budgets.
Some fun stuff was on show during Saturday’s Gallery Walk. Valerie Damon’s dark, whimsical “Bone Creatures” displayed at Iris at the Basin Park were delightful. Jim Nelson’s new work at Artifacts is worth the trip upstairs. Jim was handing out shots of Patron to patrons who voted for their favorite “title” on his latest wall sculpture. Doubtless, Zeek and I were not the only ones voting more than once.
Hundreds of people showed up for the re-lighting of the SPHERE in Basin Park Saturday night. Drumming, dancing, Angelo, Sparky and a crazy LED light show made it a Eureka night to remember. Congrats again to Robert Norman and Jeremy Mason McGraw.
This Friday is May’s biggie event – the White Street Studio Walk. Local artists Zeek Taylor, Eleanor Lux, Mary Springer, John Willer and David Hussey all attended the Memphis College of Art – and, after graduating, all made Eureka Springs home. And all, except Hussey, coincidentally ended up neighbors on White St.
Thus the birth of WSSW, now in its 23rd year – an event I’ve participated in, documented, poured wine for, or simply enjoyed as an art patron for the past 17 years. It really is the social event of the year, where you can run into people you like (or don’t) whom you rarely see elsewhere. It’s also a chance to see new work by local artists, some who exhibit only at this annual street fair.
Artists Cynthia Kresse, Charles Pierce and Denise Ryan have curated and organized the Bank on Art shows for the past three years. It’s an opportunity for any local artist to have a piece of work on display at one of our three local banks for the month of May. Opening artist receptions are scheduled for Thursdays, but the public can view the artwork anytime during banking hours.
Books in Bloom is this Sunday and the weather, although “breezy” looks promising for the annual outdoor garden event. British repat Iris Simantel, who called Eureka Springs home for many years but returned to England a few years ago, will be at BIB plugging her award-winning book, Far from the East End, and her newly released GI Bride.
Another busy week of May events – see you on the street.
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