Arts & The Park closes today with Studio Tours
Arts & The Park, the annual arts festival that returned to in-person events this year after switching to virtual events last year due to the pandemic, comes to a close today with the second day of Studio Tours.
Around 20 studios will be open across Hot Springs today from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Mary Zunick, executive director of the Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance, explained that Studio Tours “is where artists open up their home studio space and invite the public in to see where all their creativity happens.”
The first day of Studio Tours was Saturday, and several of the artists who opened up their studios said they were having fun showing off their work.
Artist Gary Simmons, who opened his studio at 133 Brown St. on Saturday, told The Sentinel-Record that he enjoyed meeting with the public and showing off his work.
“It’s good for me, hopefully, it’s good for the public. It kind of makes me pay attention and take stock of what I have, what I want to show. I’m proud of the studio, so I like for people to see it,” Simmons said.
“All artists like the feedback,
whether they admit it or not. It’s one thing to make it, but sharing it is really where the fun comes,” Simmons said.
Metal sculptor Wayne Summerhill participated in his first Studio Tours.
Summerhill said he was convinced to participate by fellow artist Lori Arnold.
At his studio, 110 Vasseur Alley, Summerhill had a sculpture on display that the city has purchased for installation on the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail in a few weeks.
The sculpture is a tribute to one of Summerhill’s friends who died in a motorcycle accident.
Summerhill said that he was enjoying Studio Tours so far.
The Warehouse, 301 Broadway St., was also open for Studio Tours, and two artists were creating artwork there on Saturday — Angelina Hardin was painting and Linda Bush was working with glass.
Hardin said that this was also her first Studio Tours.
“It gives an insight into the artists,” she said, as to why she was supporting Studio Tours.
She also said that the event is good for the artists, as well as the public, because it makes the artists experience other kinds of artwork.
Hardin noted that she was enjoying watching Bush work with glass, a medium she had never thought to use before.
“I love it, I love getting to meet artists,” Hardin said.
Bush, who described herself as a multimedia artist, expressed a similar sentiment.
“I love talking to people about what I do and how it’s created,” Bush said.
Bush also pointed out that The Warehouse had art that was created by “some incredibly talented students.”
As with the adult artists, Bush said that events like this are good for the students as it validates their talent.
“So many of them are amazing,” Bush said.
One studio that was signed up for Studio Tours that will not be open today is Light and Time Design Studio LLC, 3512 Ragweed Valley Road, in Royal.
The studio was damaged in the storm last week and is unable to be opened to the public as a result.