John Rankine – Get your crotchet on and head this Saturday to Basin Park. Gina Gallina, who has already teased us with the crocheted trees and her first place Artrageous Parade win, has a whole lot more in store this weekend. The girl can sing like an angel and crotchet like the devil, at a pace unknown to mankind, and we can all be a big interactive part of it. Gina has big future plans to Yarn Bomb our giant Jesus, bringing together the gay and Christian communities and healing our city through art, crochet and love. Imagine the press we would get, attracting folks from all over the world to behold the seven-story Jesus wrapped in a patchwork of color, reviving the Passion Play, thus saving Eureka. Hallelujah!!!
For the past 26 years, the third Friday in May has been about the White Street Studio Walk, the street fair/block party where throngs of locals and visitors gather to be social and admire and buy local art.
I’m not showing this year, but will help artist Zeek Taylor in his kitchen, pouring wine and smacking down anyone who grabs a handful of his homemade oatmeal-raisin cookies.
Rigdon P. Irvin, (Isn’t that the coolest name, ever) co-owner of the Bird Cage has rented out two parking lots below his gallery to host an Art Bazaar all day Saturday. More than 30 local artists will have work on display, plus several demonstrations.
I was 12 when I first saw Lust For Life, the film about Vincent Van Gogh starring Kirk Douglas as the tormented painter. I’ll never forget the scene where Van Gogh is painting his beloved wheat fields, refusing to pack up for the incoming storm. Determined to stay to catch the storm’s light, it violently ends with his paints, easel and canvas crashing to the ground.
We have passionate local Plein Air painters, and through their passion the first Eureka Springs Plein Air Festival was born. Plein Air is the hoity-toity French word for “painting outdoors,” and, like pink Rosé wine, is resurging.
Between May 22–26 you should spot artists toting easels and canvas, literally painting the town, and because this is a festival, spectators are encouraged to spectate.
Here’s a primer of proper Plein Air protocol: Do not honk when passing an artist on the side of the road.
Keep your distance. If the artist feels your breath on their necks, you are way too close. Keep conversation to a minimum. They especially do not want to hear about how your grandmother was a painter too. Check out the Independent Fun Guide for the complete list of Plein Air events and award presentations.