A Weekend Of The Arts In The Middle of Fly-Over Country
A Weekend Of The Arts In The Middle of Fly-Over Country
SEPTEMBER 6, 2010 -- MENA, ARKANSAS – A group of arts organizations have arranged the opportunity for people who love the arts and like to go exploring, to spend a wonderful weekend in the middle of the Ouachita Mountains enjoying the Performing, Music and Visual Arts, all in one-jam packed weekend. They can plan to spend the whole weekend of October 8 to 10 touring working artist studios on the Ouachita Art Trails studio tour, visiting the Mena Art Gallery Ouachita Expressions Show, having dinner at one of Mena’s fine restaurants, attending a show at our state champion community theater, Ouachita Little Theater, visiting working artists and a real country music show, The Big Bear Opry, at the Mena Mountain Resort.
People can start planning their trip by visiting www.OuachitaArtTrails.com. They can pre-register for the free tour, or register at one of the artist’s studios as they drive into town. On the web site they will see profiles of the artists and maps to their studios to help plan their trip. For example, they could start the trip on Friday, driving in from Texas, Louisiana, or SW Arkansas. They can select artist’s studios to visit, accessible from Hwy 71 South, like award-winning artists Jim & Jane Brace, Tyrone Lewis, Lou Alderman, Rich & Donna Chrisman, Hugh Erwin, Lynn & John Speece, and Jim Harvey. If they drive in from Little Rock or Hot Springs and come in on Hwy 8, you can visit the studio and gallery of Henry Moreno. Coming south on Hwy 71 from Ft. Smith they can side-trip to Charles Johnson’s metal-working studio in the middle of the National Forest. They can register for the tour, get maps and information and even buy a $1 raffle ticket for a beautiful Grandfather Clock at any of the studios.
On Friday night, they can enjoy a reasonably priced dinner and theater tickets package, including a fine southwestern dinner at The Branding Iron, and then attend a play at the state champion Ouachita Little Theater. Visit www.oltmena.com for theater information. Another wining and dining choice is fine Italian restaurant, Spinelli’s Café www.spinelliscafe.com.
After a full first day those on the tour will be ready to turn in at one of our reasonably priced motels, a nice bed and breakfast or the luxurious Mena Mountain Resort. And if they have a plane, the Mena Intermountain Airport can accommodate any size aircraft with limo service to Mena Mountain Resort.
Saturday will be another full day for those on the tour with visits to more Southwest Artist’s Studios, taking in the Ouachita Expressions Show at the Mena Art Gallery, visit the artists displaying their work at the Mena Mountain Resort, get dinner and show tickets for The Ouachita Little Theater or attend The Big Bear Music show at the Mena Mountain Resort.
Sunday they can sleep in, or go to one of Mena’s many churches, and hit the studios they had not yet seen. And after all of that there will still be some places along the way that they may want to visit on their way home. For more information, visit www.gomenaarkansas.com or call the Mena Art Gallery at 479-394-3880.
