John Rankine – I had a grand time playing Grand Marshal in Saturday’s Artrageous parade with the lovely Lilah Stiger at my side and fellow muses Valerie Damon and Alan Margolies tricked out in spectacular costume and makeup.
But it was the crochet madness of Gina Gallina that easily stole the show and took the parade’s top prize, with her big-ass crocheted truck and posse donning Gina’s over-the-top, toasty warm costumes. There was a whole lot of sweatin’ goin’ on, but everyone made it look like a cool spring day.
During “Art in the Park” Saturday, artists in Basin Park will demonstrate, talk about and sell their work. Weavers, ceramic artists and plein air painters, plus a steady supply of music in the bandshell will fill the park from 11 to 6.
Amazingly, Books in Bloom is already in its 11th year. The literary festival, where one can meet and hear accomplished writers recite from their latest works, runs all day Sunday in the gardens of the Crescent Hotel.
Lots happening during Saturday evening’s gallery stroll: Les Brandt is Eureka Fine Art’s three-dimensional artist for May, showing his beautiful wood creations. Painter Drew Gentle is the co-op gallery’s featured member of the month.
Kate Baer returns to Zarks with her latest handcrafted, organic, fossil-inspired jewelry line.
The joke at Quicksilver is that jewelry maker and full-time employee Brian Watson is always the featured artist. The in-house artist has beautiful new work on display.
The Bird Cage, the Green Gourd, the Jewel Box, Mel Shipley’s new downstairs gallery, Iris at Basin Park, Fleece ‘n’ Flax and Fantasy and Stone and more are all participating in the Saturday’s Gallery Stroll from 6 to 9.
Beth Withey swirls her baton this Saturday as the Ozarks Chorale perform a new program at the AUD starting at 7.
Somehow the first two escaped my attention, but the 3rd Annual Jeep Fest is this weekend at Holiday Island, and I am assuming it’s a festival about jeeps.
Seems there is something for everyone this month.