The Department of Arkansas Heritage will celebrate May as Arkansas Heritage month with this year's theme, "Off the Beaten Path," highlighted through events during the 10-day Arts & the Park celebration from April 27-May 6.
Heritage month begins May 1 with two plein-air events: painting for professional artists and a children's event, both held at Hollywood Park from 3-6 p.m. The natural beauty will be captured on canvas and displayed at Art Springs on the closing weekend of the festival. Artists may participate in a plein-air paint out, and young artists may make an outdoor painting depicting "Off the Beaten Path." Instruction, paint and materials will be provided. There will be a book giveaway and special guest appearance by Clifford the Big Red Dog. Garland County Library will include its mobile unit with a selection of art and nature books that youth can check out.
Arkansas Champion Trees with Linda Williams Palmer will be presented at the Garland County Library beginning at 6 p.m. May 1. The presentation will include drawings of trees in her book, "Arkansas Champion Trees of Arkansas-An Artist's Journey," and new artworks.
The regional art exhibit for the month of May features Arkansas visual artists' works inspired by Arkansas' natural beauty, including the parks, campsites, historic sites and rural areas of Arkansas. A guided tour begins at 5:30 p.m. May 2 at the library. The tour will then move to the photography exhibit at the Hot Springs Cultural Affairs office at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Photographic entries can be seen at the office with paintings being exhibited at the library throughout the month of May.
The public will also have the opportunity to join artists for a hike on private trails surrounding the home and studio of wood artist Gene Sparling. He and potter Jim Larkin are both naturalists and knowledgeable about native flora and fauna.
Visit http://www.hotpspringsarts.org for more information about registration and a schedule of Arts & the Park events.
Entertainment on 04/18/2018