Out And Artsy

WAC festival expands sphere of entertainment

On the Cover: Circa's Carnival of the Animals weaves together whimsical tales of creatures of land and sea as part of Artosphere.
On the Cover: Circa's Carnival of the Animals weaves together whimsical tales of creatures of land and sea as part of Artosphere.

Ever expanding, the seventh annual Artosphere, Arkansas' arts and nature festival, will incorporate cities from Fayetteville to Bella Vista.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette file photo

Perhaps Artosphere’s most well-known event, Trail Mix, will take place May 14-15 during the seventh annual festival. Guests can see musical acts of different genres along the trails and may even run into a giant, whimsical puppet or two.

"The festival has always been about bringing in artists who were influenced by nature," says Erin Rogers, the public relations director at the Walton Art Center, event presenter. "What has been phenomenal for all the cities involved is that everyone has wanted to do something. We're partnering with bike companies and parks and rec [departments] and downtown alliances and more. [The festival] is truly a multi-city event -- one event of an arts and nature festival incorporating each of these communities."

FAQ

Artosphere

WHEN — May 10-27

WHERE — Various venues around Northwest Arkansas

COST — Admission prices vary; most free

INFO — 443-5600 or waltonartscenter.org

As always, the festival will bring nationally touring musicians and artists to the area for nearly two weeks to contribute to the arts community. The locations of the performances or the performances themselves will incorporate nature, with many taking place outdoors. Another major focus for the seventh year will be encouraging audiences to use their bicycles. In a celebration of the one year birthday of the Razorback Greenway, the Trail Mix event has been expanded to the entire 36-mile stretch of trail between Bentonville and Fayetteville. Performance events incorporating bicycles can be found at the Walton Arts Center and along the trails, and many events will have a bike valet available.

"Encouraging all the bike use provides another platform to talk about sustainability and how it affects our community," Rogers says of one of the missions of the festival.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of activities going on in the next three weeks, Rogers suggests taking a look at the Artosphere website, where all the events are laid out by category. Certain events like Trail Mix can last all day or for just a short time while guests watch one performance along the trail. However you choose to enjoy the art and nature highlighted during the festival, Rogers says there is something for everyone, and the free and family-oriented events make it easy for the whole family to spend the day together out in their community.

Live Music

Paula Fuga -- 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel, Bella Vista. Sold out. Also at Trail Mix.

The Okee Dokee Brothers -- 4 p.m. May 15, Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville. $8. Also at Trail Mix.

The Barefoot Movement -- 6:30 p.m. May 16, The Chapel Ruins at Sassafras Springs Vineyard, Springdale. $10. Also at Trail Mix.

The Dover Quartet -- 7 p.m. May 18, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Fayetteville. $10. Also at the AFO concert May 24.

Aizuri Quartet -- 8 p.m. May 20, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Fayetteville. $10.

Artosphere Festival Orchestra Food and Music Night -- 6:30 p.m. May 20, downtown Bentonville square. Settle in or move among your favorite local restaurants, coffee shops or pubs around downtown as Artosphere Festival Orchestra ensembles perform "pop-up" concerts. Free.

Russian Masterworks -- 8 p.m. May 21, Walton Arts Center. $10.

Heroic Beethoven -- 7 p.m. May 24, Walton Arts Center. $10.

Outdoor Fun

Bike-itcture Tours -- 5 p.m. Thursday, Fayetteville tour begins at the HandleBar Bike Shop on Block Street, Bentonville tour begins at Compton Gardens on the Crystal Bridges Trail. Also 3 p.m. May 21, Fayetteville tour begins at the Phat Tire Bike Shop on Mall Avenue.

Trail Mix -- 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 14, Razorback Regional Greenway. Enjoy art, music and nature at Artosphere Trail Mix pit stops along the 36-mile stretch from Fayetteville to Bentonville. Free. Or register for the Square 2 Square Bike Ride event and ride the whole 36 miles.

Gardens on Tap -- 5-8 p.m. May 14, Compton Gardens, Bentonville. The Peel Compton Foundation invites you to sample local cuisine and listen to live music as you wander the gardens. $35.

Trail Mix -- 5-7 p.m. May 15, Frisco Trail, downtown Fayetteville. Enjoy art, music and nature at Artosphere Trail Mix pit stops along the Frisco Trail in Fayetteville. Free.

Bike Zoo -- May 14 and 15 at Trail Mix. Born as a collaboration between bike-builders, puppet-makers and performers, the Bike Zoo has the unique ability to captivate with its giant, whimsical "wild" animals. Free.

Bike Decorating -- 4:30-6 p.m. May 15, Community Creative Center, Fayetteville. Free.

Ho'olaule'a Celebration -- With Paula Fuga and friends, 7-8 p.m. May 15, Wilson Park, Fayetteville. Free.

Entertainment

SPIN -- 7 p.m. Thursday & 8 p.m. May 13, Starr Theater inside the Walton Arts Center. Part indie music concert, part performance poetry, part history lesson, SPIN celebrates the bicycle as muse, musical instrument and agent of social change. $8. Also at Trail Mix.

Circa's Carnival of the Animals -- 7 p.m. May 13, Walton Arts Center. With whimsical tales of creatures of land and sea, Carnival of the Animals will whisk you away on a thrilling circus escapade that creates the feeling of being in a larger-than-life story book. $10. Also at Trail Mix.

UpStream Art -- 4-7 p.m. May 15, Frisco Trail, Fayetteville. UpStream Art is an educational program that uses art to communicate the function and importance of storm drains. Free.

The Sixth Mass Extinction -- 7-9 p.m. May 20, Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, Springdale. A lecture discussing the five mass extinctions through history, presented by Tom Krohn, retired educator at North Arkansas College in Harrison. Free.

Egg -- 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. May 21, Starr Theater inside the Walton Arts Center. Using physical theater, illusion and music, Egg investigates the cycle of life of newly hatched birds, drawing children in with wimple story, creative lighting and sound and cleverly conceived props. $8.

-- Source: waltonartscenter.org/artosphere

NAN What's Up on 05/06/2016

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