Artists and art enthusiasts are invited to Ripple Effect – An Evening of Artistic Celebration on Friday, January 30 from 6-9 p.m. in the Lincoln County Fairground South Exhibit Hall. Guests will enjoy the film screening of “First Drop – Ripple Effects of an Artist” as well as networking with and learning about art opportunities and organizations in Star Valley.

As the recipient of the Wyoming Arts Council’s 2024 Performing Arts Fellowship in Theater and Dance, Jennifer Wilkins, who is an aerial circus arts instructor with Star Valley Circus, created the film, “First Drop,” as a solution to a performance dilemma.

Each year, the Wyoming Arts Council requests that the fellowship recipient share their gift at a performance event in Casper. “I tried to figure out how to get rigging hooked up in Casper, but there is nowhere to set up aerial arts rigging.”  Wilkins “felt inspired to create a film that showcased the value and the importance of artists and the arts and how it has that ripple effect throughout communities in their family life and their work life.”

The film features athletes from the Star Valley Circus studio in various stages of their growth in the aerial arts, and how their study of circus arts has positively influenced their lives.

Art organizations in the valley, including the Star Valley Arts Council, the Salt River Arts Society and the Wyoming Arts Development Institute, are scheduled to present information about each organization’s mission and objectives for the future growth of art and art education in Star Valley. A Question-and-Answer session will accompany these presentations.

“We are lucky to have three arts councils here in the valley that have very different missions and programs and events, offering assistance to artists in the valley,” Wilkins shared. “It’s not possible for one arts organization to meet all the needs that the valley might have. We are seeking ways to fill those gaps, to collaborate and work together. Having three organizations offers much more expanded possibilities than trying to do it alone.”

Additional offerings throughout the evening will include art demonstrations from western artist Tammra Erickson and Blue Fox Studio and Gallery artist, Tony Ivie.  Thirteen aerial athletes are scheduled to demonstrate their growing skills, and performing artists with Star Valley High School’s Drama program are expected to present a few award-winning numbers from their state festival entries.

Wilkins is hoping that the evening will serve as a “full, immersive experience” for folks who want to learn more about art opportunities and education in Star Valley.

Artists are encouraged to “bring questions and ideas and come and network with different organizations to understand the mission of each organization and identify which will be the best resource for you. If you have been looking for like-minded individuals and supportive organizations in creating arts, this would be a really good resource to make those things happen.”

Light refreshments and a mingling hour will give guests opportunities to connect with and learn more about one another.

Tickets are $25 per person and are available through the QR code pictured to the right, or by visiting rippleeffect.eventbrite.com. Interested parties can also email contact@wyadi.org. Wilkins hopes to make the event accessible to everyone, so any individual who feels that ticket prices are cost prohibitive can reach out to her through the above email, and she will work with your budget.