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20th Annual "Art in the Park" This Weekend--Rain or No Rain

(Logo courtesy www.artandcraftguild.org)

Artists create because they're driven to express something in themselves.  The creative process is fun and rewarding, of course, but most rewarding of all is when an artist can share his or her creation with others. That's the idea behind "Art in the Park," the annual fine-art and contemporary craft show and sale sponsored by the all-volunteer Southwest Missouri Art and Craft Guild, as part of their mission to support working artists in the area.  Art in the Park celebrates its 20th anniversary this weekend at Sequiota Park, 3500 S. Lone Pine (about a mile south of the Battlefield Road/Lone Pine intersection in southeast Springfield).  Admission is free to the annual show and sale, which will go on regardless of what the weather may be doing, says Cathy Evans of the Art and Craft Guild.  Even though there's a strong probability of rain on Saturday, Cathy says "the tents are dry!  A rainy show is still a show--we never have a cancelation."  Hours are 10:00am to 4:30pm Saturday and Sunday Oct. 10 and 11.

"Art in the Park" focuses on two- and three-dimensional visual art, but this year, Cathy says "we have a LOT more two-dimensional art than we've had in the past." But there will be plenty of three-dimensional pieces too. "The Guild was formed by potters, and there are still lots of potters."  In addition to drawings, paintings, pencil drawings and 2-dimensional mixed media, the show will include porcelain, stoneware and raku ceramics, both functional and decorative; blown, stained and fused glass art; sculpture; jewelry;  various kinds of fiber arts; and turned and carved wood art.   This year some 30 artists from three states--Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas--will be exhibiting, four of them new to the "Art in the Park" show.

All attendees, adults and children, will be invited to submit their votes for the "People's Choice" award. Cathy Evans says she especially likes to get the kids involved in the voting process by allowing them to "decide for themselves what they like best."  All the art pieces will be available for sale.

Cathy Evans also reminds patrons that Sequiota Park is on the Greenway trail, so there are various alternative roots to the park. You can ride your bike into the park grounds, for example--but she asks that you be sure to stop by the main front gate to pick up a program and a "People's Choice" ballot.

For more information call Cathy Evans at (417) 689-4536, or visit www.artcraftguild.com or their new Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/artcraftguild.

Randy Stewart joined the full-time KSMU staff in June 1978 after working part-time as a student announcer/producer for two years. His job has evolved from Music Director in the early days to encompassing production of a wide range of arts-related programming and features for KSMU, including the online and Friday morning Arts News. Stewart assists volunteer producers John Darkhorse (Route 66 Blues Express), Lee Worman (The Gold Ring), and Emily Higgins (The Mulberry Tree) with the production of their programs. He's also become the de facto "Voice of KSMU" in recent years due to the many hours per day he’s heard doing local station breaks. Stewart’s record of service on behalf of the Springfield arts community earned him the Springfield Regional Arts Council's Ozzie Award in 2006.