Art Symposium and Garden Party where conversation and music bloom and blend
Larry Mansker, Pat Keller, Andelyn Crawford, Nate White and Shelley Russell showcased their paintings at last Saturday’s art celebration at Rose Hall. Larry gave a much-anticipated talk about why and how the spirit of creation has such a foothold in Eureka Springs.
“Well, Matthew saw a little brochure I had done on how Eureka Springs became such a popular place for artists. He said that’d be a good talk, so here we are,” Larry said. “About a year ago they opened the Museum of Eureka Springs Art. I thought it’d be a good idea to have a story about Eureka Springs art. So, over the last six months I made a brochure about how and why Eureka Springs is one of the most popular art centers in America. Which I think is a good story.
“However, this brochure wasn’t what the museum was after, so this died on the vine. But I’m going to keep pushing it because I think Eureka Springs is exciting, and this is why Eureka Springs became what it is.
“First of all, I’m fascinated with this town. When I left California thirty years ago, I searched the country for a year for this town.
“I broke the brochure down into five different time limits. The first time period is 1879-1930. That was the time of the healing waters that created the town of Eureka Springs. It was the water, we all know that. But there were lots of little adventures that went on. I will explain those little adventures.
“The Crescent was considered the best hotel west of the Mississippi in 1886. Then the railroad came in 1880. The sign at the Palace [Hotel] was the first neon sign west of the Mississippi, built in Paris in 1927. The city auditorium was built in 1928, just before everything died. John Philip Sousa did the opening event at the Auditorium. Lucien Grey did one hundred different photographs of town and sold them as post cards.
“In between 1931 and the 1950s was economic depression and loss of confidence in the healing waters. At one time, there were special elements in the water that did good for you. But once everybody moved here and polluted the waters, it wasn’t so good anymore. The Artist’s Bridge was built in 1931. It was a bridge and underneath the bridge were little rooms where they had writers, artists and musicians doing their crafts.
“In 1941, Louis and Else Freund opened a summer art school. Louis was calling his friends and telling them to come to the school, and that’s why a lot of artists started migrating to Eureka. The homes were beautiful and cheap. A lot of buildings were vacant. They came here and had a beautiful home and could ship their artwork anywhere.”
Roscoe Van Jones performed solo, then did a duet with Dr. Fiddlin’ Fred Mayer. Dave Blankenship gave a tribute to Roscoe Van Jones, and Los Roscoes played. The finale was a duet of Tim Hillwood with Dr. Fiddlin Fred Meyer.
“One of the things about our name,” Blankenship said. “Where it came from, you just got to hear the man Roscoe Van Jones play for ya. It always sets me back, I love the way that man plays music. Roscoe, Adam and I were just sitting around and jamming. Roscoe told me we might be able to play a gig from 5-7 on a Tuesday. For a musician that’s probably an impossibility, because nobody plays from 5-7 on a Tuesday. For me, I thought I was washed up when I left Texas. So, I said go ahead. And darned if he didn’t do it. So about ten years ago, Los Roscoes started playing for $30 and a cheeseburger. And we were appreciative just the same. And doggone if people didn’t show up.
“A big reason why I live here in Eureka Springs, Roscoe had a coffee shop, and the only topics of conversation were guitars, guns and motorcycles. I didn’t know much about guns, but I liked listening. Every Saturday it was the perfect barber shop. Everybody hung out and drank coffee. People talked.
“Over the years, Roscoe dropped out for one reason or another. But this band would not have been here if it wasn’t for Roscoe. And he is way more illustrious than even that.
“He’d be playing out in New Orleans as a street musician in his younger days and Allen Toussaint would always stop by and listen to him. All these people he’s got to play with over the years. He was into the Piedmont style and the old Mills Brothers stuff.
“He just amazed me. Those were interests I always had. But once I hit the real world in Fort Worth, Texas, I was playing Honky Tonks and doing Billy Rae Cyrus, stuff like that. I forgot all about that stuff, so he was a real shot in the arm for me. Love talking to him, still do.
“He brought Townes Van Zandt to town. He’s done so much for the music of this community, and the groove that this community and Los Roscoes tries to live by. He’s a dear friend of mine.”
Thank you to all who played a part in this event. I don’t have enough words to express what it all means to me, so thank you.