Sixth annual Birth of an Artist set for Aug. 10
Dozens of handmade pieces of artwork created by young local artists will be on display, and for sale, at the Sixth annual The Birth of an Artist Art Sale & Reception on Aug. 10.
Anthony Tidwell, the founder of Cutwell 4 Kids, said that he plans for 100 pieces of artwork to be at the event, and around half of those pieces will be created by three people Tidwell called the MVPs of the C4K program — Rayshaun McNary, Grace Williams
and James Avery. The rest of the art will come from around 25 students who attend the C4K program on Saturdays.
Avery is the featured artist of this year’s event. Tidwell said this is the first year that Avery has been in the program. He said that he got a call from teacher Shirley Tipton called him and said she had a kid who would be good for the program. “He is a blessing,” Tidwell said.
Most of the art, Tidwell said, isn’t going to be expensive. Most of the pieces from the Saturday program will go for $20. Tidwell said that buying a piece of art created by a student is a way to support the program. Tidwell also uses the art sell as an educational tool for the youngsters.
If a piece of art sells for $20 at the show, the artist who created it will get $15 of that and C4K will get $5. Tidwell said that if an artist gets their work into a gallery, the gallery will be getting a cut of the money when those pieces sell. By C4K keeping $5, Tidwell said the kids know what to expect if they are able to get their work into a gallery.
In addition to the art on display, there will also be performers at the event. For example, Trent Clayton and his teacher Marcus Montgomery will both be reading poetry. This will be the second year in a row that Clayton has performed at the event.
While Tidwell’s passion is for painting, he said that C4K supports all kinds of arts, including poetry. When not working with kids at C4K, Tidwell is a barber, and he said that Clayton came in one day, and “We were in the barbershop talking. I heard he did a poetry reading in school. I was like, ‘Man, why’d you stop? You could get better at it,” Tidwell said.
Tidwell then called Montgomery and asked if he would work with Clayton. “I called Marcus and I told him I have a kid interested in poetry and he doesn’t know what route to take.” Tidwell said that Montgomery agreed to help immediately.
“He was down, he understands that so many (kids) need that (help) before we lose them, before the environment ruins them,” Tidwell said about Montgomery. “I called and asked him to do it (and he said) just what time you want me there.”
Seeing Clayton progress, Tidwell said, has been fulfilling. “That’s what C4K is here for. So many kids want to express themselves, but don’t have an avenue to do it,” Tidwell said. He said that art — whether it is with a paintbrush or via poetry — is a way to deal with issues in life in a positive manner.
Also performing will be RockTown Youth Jazz Squad and local singer Quentin Preston will “serenade the crowd,” Tidwell said.
All of the proceeds from the event will be used at the C4K studio.
The event is happening at Embassy Suites Hot Springs — Hotel & Spa, 400 Convention Blvd., which was the location of the first Birth of an Artist event. Returning to the Embassy, Tidwell said, feels like a reunion. Over the last few years the show has been held at Emergent Arts, but Tidwell said that they outgrew that venue. Next year’s event, Tidwell said, will be held at Langston Elementary Leadership Academy.
While they are in early talks, Tidwell said that the superintendent has invited the C4K program to Langston next year.
The Sixth Annual The Birth of an Artistsshow will be from 7-10 p.m. on Aug. 10. Tickets are $20 for adults and free for people aged 17 and younger. Tickets can be purchased online at
https://www.cutwell4kids.org.