Clarification and apology

Dear editor:

I am writing concerning a June 12 front- page article in The Sentinel- Record and I hope to clear up a misconception.

Downtown merchants have been blamed for an art class that was held on Central Avenue recently. There was a class but it had nothing to do with the merchants. A group of artists hired an art instructor to come here from Florida to teach plein aire painting. Downtown Hot Springs was one of the venues chosen for the class.

We consulted with representatives of the National Park about regulations but it never occurred to us to check with the city. Being a Hot Springs native, maybe I should have known. Three of our groups were from Little Rock, one from Baton Rouge and the other three Garland County residents.

In our defense, I would like to say that we tried to be careful not to block the pathway of the visitors. Many stopped to watch the painting and seemed to really enjoy the proceedings. Hot Springs being an art town, I can’t help comparing it to Paris where setting up easels seems to be the norm. We even remarked that watching artists at work might be one of some visitors’ most pleasant memories of Hot Springs.

We also patronized the downtown merchants, eating at the Ohio Club, Granny’s Kitchen, The Fudge Factory and we used the parking lots.

On behalf of our group, I apologize for adding to the woes of the merchants. Nan Merchant

Hot Springs