The fourth annual Delta Visual Arts Show, which started with the help of Clinton School students, will be held this Saturday in downtown Newport, Ark., from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
A team of Clinton School students helped start the show in 2009. The event has grown from drawing 17 artists in 2009 to an expected 101 artists this year.
For their Practicum project, former Clinton School students Emily Fischer, Todd Moore and Joanna Klak worked with Newport leaders in 2008-09 to begin plans for a Delta Visual Arts Center in the community. Planning and implementing the Delta Visual Arts Show was part of their project.
The Clinton School’s partnership with Newport continued in 2009-10 when students Patrick Banks, William Jeter and Sarah Leer also worked on the arts center and show for their Practicum project.
The Newport Independent has more details on this year’s event:
The Blue Bridge Center for the Delta Arts announces the 4th Annual Delta Visual Arts Show on Saturday, February 25, 2012 in downtown Newport, Arkansas. The show will open to the public at 10:30 a.m. and run through 6 p.m. with a reception from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This year’s show features 100 artists from five states, featuring primarily artists who grew up in the Delta, live or have lived in the Delta or who produce Delta themed work. The visual art covers a broad range with everything from pottery to painting and jewelry to sculpture. The show’s capacity is 100 artists so, with almost two months remaining before the show, the Blue Bridge Center for the Delta Arts created a waiting list for artists.
The show will be held in downtown Newport at the Iron Mountain Train Depot on Front Street, the Newport Business Resource Center on Hazel Street, the old Post Office on Hazel Street and a new building this year, the Old First National Bank on Front Street (the John Minor Building). Artists will have their work on display, and visitors will be able to meet the artists as well as purchase pieces. This is a unique opportunity to own an original piece of art and to understand how the artist produced the piece. Several artists will be working at their booths during the show. The show features well-known artists like Dr. Austin Grimes of Little Rock and young new artists like Lillian Fogleman of Marion, and Adralyn Elliott and Natalie Curtner, both from Newport.