People who work from 9 to 5 often don’t have time to make it to a gallery before closing time — but in Searcy, community members are working together to allow everyone the opportunity to experience local art.
First Friday Art Nights will begin Nov. 3, and several businesses in Searcy will stay open until 7 p.m.
Daniel Adams, professor of art at Harding University in Searcy, said he came up with the idea after looking into creative organizations throughout the town.
“I realized that we have enough for a local gallery walk. I regularly participate as an artist in the 2nd Friday Art Night in Little Rock, and the Argenta 3rd Friday Art Walk in North Little Rock. Lots of people come out and spend time with their neighbors in the community, enjoying art and meeting artists. Searcy needs this, too,” he said.
Adams said the monthly event is all about exposing more community members to creativity and art because many have work schedules that prevent them from visiting creative organizations during regular business hours.
“It’s really an alliance of businesses and organizations who want to enrich the lives of our community by sharing what they are doing and, when possible, providing an opportunity for our citizens to buy local art for their homes and businesses,” he said.
The event will be completely free, he said, and participants are welcome to move through the tour at a comfortable pace.
Terri Brannon, executive director at the Searcy Art Gallery, said the event will be a great way to strengthen ties between Searcy’s artistic organizations.
“Some of the businesses are serving light refreshments, but the best thing about this event is that it’s free. It’s just a casual ‘drop on by’ kind of thing,” she said.
Several businesses, both downtown and beyond, will participate in the event, she said, including the Searcy Art Gallery, Pollard Studios, Stevens Art Galleries at Harding University, Midnight Oil, The Artistry, Glass From the Past, Fran’s Art & Frame Shop, A.J.’s Art Studio, Make.Do., the Think Idea Studio and Gallery 803.
One participating business, The Artistry, opened in June and offers classes in oil painting, acrylic painting, card making, fused glass, enameling, jewelry making and more.
Kathi Raines, owner of The Artistry, said the business is a group of 35 local artists who sell their art at the shop, teach classes and offer custom work.
“We have oil painters, charcoal artists, watercolorists, acrylic painters, decorators, potters, photographers, doll makers, miniaturists, card makers, wood crafters, metalsmiths, photographers, textile artists, calligraphers and jewelers. Just a few weeks ago, we were excited to have Dr. Landry Kamden from Harding University open a store at The Artistry. Dr. Kamden has a nonprofit hospital in Cameroon, Africa, serving the poorest and sickest. It is an honor to be part of such an amazing mission,” she said.
Raines said the First Friday Art Nights will allow artists to showcase their art and participants to have an evening out with friends.
“We are hoping to have most of our artists here so that everyone can meet the artists personally and see the passion they have for their work,” she said.
An overwhelming interest has been shown in classes at The Artistry, Raines said, and participation is growing each week.
All supplies are furnished, and each class costs $20 per person, she said.
Raines said she opened The Artistry because she wanted to help other artists by allowing them to rent their own store space.
“I appreciate and understand the challenges of being an artist for 40 years and having a full-time job, so from that knowledge grew the desire to open The Artistry. Allowing artists who work full time to have their own stores to showcase and sell their art is the mission of The Artistry, along with offering a unique shopping experience to all who enter our beautiful store,” she explained.
The Artistry has brought awareness to the amazing artists in the community, she said, and these artists have a lot to offer.
“I love to create, whether it’s painting, working with glass, enameling or metalsmithing. It feeds my soul and keeps me grounded,” she said.
Brannon said art is important because it is diverse and brings people together.
“It is love, passion and drive. It is a release for some. It has the ability to heal. It is a universal language we all get,” she said. “It breaks down walls and barriers. It makes us complete.”
Staff writer Kayla Baugh can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or kbaugh@arkansasonline.com.