Art Springs returns in-person for 2021

Art Springs returns in May as part of Arts & The Park with in-person events planned to get back to normal “as much as we can be,” Mary Zunick, executive director of the Hot Springs Cultural Alliance, said.

Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Art Springs was held in the fall, and “we stuck with elements that were outside that did not encourage groups gathering at the same time, or were virtual,” Zunick said.

“We’ve had a tremendous outpouring of interest from our artists,” she said, noting how difficult the last year has been “especially (for) the artists who rely on being able to supplement their income or their entire income comes from selling art at art festivals, and they have not been able to do that.”

“Artists are excited to be

back at a festival and back making sales,” she said.

Art Springs takes place during the 10-day Arts & The Park arts festival, which Zunick describes as a downtown, outdoor arts festival at Hill Wheatley Plaza featuring booths with various artists.

Zunick said they usually have “between 20 and 30” artists at Art Springs and already have over 20 booked representing many different kinds of art.

“There’s jewelry, there’s obviously painting and drawing, all different types — glass, ceramics,” she said.

“Many of them are doing demonstrations,” Zunick said, which they have encouraged.

“We want this to be an educational opportunity for families with young children who, obviously, for the last year or so have not been able to attend an event like this, to be able to see art being created,” she said.

Artists who want to participate have until April 10 to sign up.

“Art Moves,” an outdoor exhibit installed along the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail, features submitted artwork printed on metal signs. The artwork from the 2020 festival is still on display, but Zunick said it will “be coming down mid-April, and then new ones will open to the public” on April 30.

Submissions for “Art Moves” are due on April 1.

The Hot Springs Renaissance Faire will also be returning to Arts & The Park, Zunick said, noting, “that was a big hit.”

“You could see the Renaissance Faire as you were driving by, down the street, people dressed in costume and they have so much fun with that,” she said.

Chalk Walk will also return and will be held at the same time on the sidewalks on either side of Art Springs.

“Of course we will follow (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines for how to keep everyone safe,” she said.

The Sentinel-Record/Tanner Newton n “Out in Front,” by Kenneth Haley, part of the 2020 “Art Moves” collection on the Hot Springs Greenway Trail, and other artwork will soon be replaced with the 2021 collection.

The Sentinel-Record/Tanner Newton n “Bike Spray,” by Morgan Herndon, part of the 2020 “Art Moves” collection on the Hot Springs Greenway Trail, and other artwork will soon be replaced with the 2021 collection.