For three years, the Hot Springs Arts Advisory Committee has organized an arts festival centered around raising recycling awareness and beautifying the Hot Springs Greenway Trail.
The deadline to submit applications for the annual Upcycle Sculpture Festival is quickly approaching. Artists have until April 6 to submit an online entry form at no cost for the festival, which will take place on April 21. Six categories for individuals, groups, adults, children and professional artists were created to give artists of all levels the opportunity to shine.
"We have a lot of people enter; everything from groups of elementary school kids to professional artists. They can enter and display any art that they have made out of recycled materials," said committee member Carol Katchens.
"The more elaborate things are made of welded metal but people bring (pieces) made of anything. There are no limits; it's just whatever your imagination leads you to create," she said.
Through a partnership with the arts advisory committee and the parks and trails department for the city, the event has also helped add to the beautification process of the Hot Springs Greenway Trail. Every year, one sculpture for the festival is purchased by the arts advisory committee, Katchens said.
Artists are judged based on beauty, creativity, originality, innovation, inspiration and imagination. There is no entry fee or rules in construction. All sculptures must be transported, set up, and taken down by the artists. Each piece of artwork is available for purchase following the festival.
"There are two motivations for doing this. One is that it's close to Earth day. We are very concerned about getting people more aware of recycling. A lot of stuff gets thrown out that can be used in other ways. We want people to be aware of what they are throwing out and thinking about if it can be used in another way," said Katchens.
"The other is that we are always interested in promoting the arts," she said.
Applications are available for download at https://www.cityhs.net/ and must be submitted by email to [email protected] by April 6.
The festival takes place from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on April 21 on the Hot Springs Greenway Trail, adjacent to the Hot Springs Farmers & Artisans Market.
Local on 03/26/2018