BENTONVILLE -- Patrick Hall of the 2006 American Idol contest will be one of several performers during the annual Bentonville Art Walk next month.
Festival organizers have added several new attractions, including a Main Stage for musicians and a Kids Art Park.
The community's willingness to embrace the arts is reason the seventh annual Art Walk will be a Saturday event, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 16, compared with the Monday evening event the last six years, said Becky McCoy, chairwoman for the Art Walk.
"Art has all of a sudden become the buzzword," she said. "Ten years ago it was hard to turn people's heads to original local art," McCoy said. "People thought they had to leave town to find good art."
Crystal Bridges Exhibits
Part of the reason might be Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art now under construction and scheduled to open in fall of 2009.
On the day of the artwork, Crystal Bridges plans to open exhibit space on the first floor of the historic Massey Building to give the public a sneak-peak at the types of art and programs at the future museum.
One exhibit area will feature aspects of the permanent art collection and future educational programs, but no original prints will be on display. The future museum will have more than 20,000 square feet for the permanent collection and 10,000 square feet of galleries for changing exhibitions.
Another area will provide updated information with models, renderings and photographs about the construction of Crystal Bridges, "so people can stay informed without difficulties of climbing down hillside," said Bob Workman, executive director, referring to the project site about a half-mile northeast of the Bentonville Downtown Square.
A full schedule of exhibits and programs will be announced in June.
Artists, Musicians
The Art Walk will feature nine musicians and groups and 47 artists.
Festival musicians are Hall who grew up in Gravette, Sugar Creek Jazz Band, Take Cover, Burford and Miller, Kevin Bennoch, Bent Grass Green, Truth About Movie Stars, Drum Spirit and Bentonville High School Jazz Band.
The musicians are scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
The artists are from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Texas, showcasing and selling original works in pastel, watercolor, clay, metals, oil, acrylic, mixed media, fiber, glass, ceramic, beadwork and more. Between 35 and 40 artists have participated annually in the Art Walk.
"Why wouldn't you want to own something that is original, that's yours, that's nobody else's, and one where you have connection with the artist you met -- that makes it all that much more enjoyable to have that on your wall," McCoy said.
Downtown businesses will transform into galleries, and some artists will be among the musicians, food vendors and kids activities outside, weather permitting.
Children will have their on Kids Art Park at Dave Peel Park from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Among activities for children are painting murals, hair weaving and beading, face-painting and making masks.
"We've never had the Kids Art Park mainly because it was an evening event," McCoy said.
At A Glance
Art Walk
For $1 donations children and adults can demonstrate their artistic talents by contributing brush strokes on the Public Art Canvas. The artwork eventually will be auctioned, and all proceeds will go to Downtown Bentonville Inc.
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