(0:18) I understand that you were just asked to do this (0:21) not long ago, so I appreciate you taking the time to do this. (0:25) I don’t know if you were able to attend or be there, (0:28) but the art festival, the Alpine Art Festival (0:31) happened over the weekend, (0:33) and we had the chance to drive through, (0:35) and it seemed like, despite a few sprinkles, (0:37) a great turnout for the art festival. (0:41) Yes, I think that things went really, really well.

(0:45) I wasn’t able to attend, (0:47) but I helped with setup in the pouring rain, (0:51) and that was an adventure. (0:54) So I think that we had a lot of vendors (0:57) who were excited to be there, (0:59) and they came, and they braved the weather, (1:02) and they had a great experience. (1:05) We had some live music, we had some activities (1:08) that people were able to participate in, (1:11) and I think, overall, it was a great success.

(1:15) Excellent, so the next big event (1:18) on the way for the Arts Council, of course, (1:20) is the Star Valley Plain Air, another art event. (1:22) Tell us what this is. (1:24) Well, this is a really beautiful opportunity (1:29) for artists in the region, (1:31) and we are still accepting registrations for that.

(1:34) This is our fifth annual Plain Air event, (1:38) and it’s scheduled for October 3rd through the 10th. (1:42) It’s an event that brings up to 50 artists (1:45) from all over the country, (1:47) and they will spend the week painting our local landscapes, (1:51) and then at the end of the week, (1:52) they submit their best work for judging (1:54) and for a final art show and sale. (1:57) And we’d really love to invite the community (1:59) to come and see what they will have created.

(2:02) The art show sale will be October 9th and 10th (2:05) at the Western Skies Fine Art Gallery in Afton. (2:09) And so you can come and see the paintings (2:10) and vote for your favorite for the People’s Choice Award, (2:14) and possibly even find a painting (2:15) that you’d like to take home with you. (2:18) So for any artists who are interested in participating, (2:21) our registration is open, (2:23) and you can register at our website.

(2:26) I love it, starbodyarts.org. (2:28) We actually have a couple of paintings (2:30) from previous Plain Airs hanging up in our studio. (2:32) So such a cool event. (2:34) Really encourage public participation, (2:36) both from artists and the community.

(2:37) And again, as Janet said, (2:39) details can be found at starbodyarts.org. (2:42) Also in October, the Classical Oil Workshop (2:45) is gonna happen 26th through the 30th, correct? (2:48) Correct. (2:49) That’s the last week of October, (2:51) and this is our fourth Classical Oil Painting Workshop. (2:55) And these workshops for us have been incredibly successful, (2:59) well-received by our art community.

(3:01) Every time we finish one, (3:03) we immediately start receiving requests for another one, (3:08) and people interested in knowing (3:10) when that will be taking place. (3:12) So it’s open to all levels of oil painters, (3:15) including people who don’t have much experience, (3:18) and the techniques are taught step-by-step, (3:20) so everyone can come away with a successful painting (3:24) while learning classical oil painting methods. (3:28) Registration tuition is $600, (3:30) and you can find all the details, again, (3:34) and a link to register at starbodyarts.org. (3:38) Janet Erickson this morning (3:39) joining us with the Star Valley Arts Council.

(3:41) She is the chairwoman (3:42) of the Arts Council’s Board of Directors. (3:44) The Mosaic Mural Project. (3:47) Arts Council continues to do these murals, (3:49) and some more popping up in Thane.

(3:50) Tell us more about this. (3:52) Oh, this is so exciting. (3:54) We are really, really pleased (3:55) to be able to offer this to the community.

(3:59) This is a great opportunity. (4:01) We are working on this mural project (4:06) for the north side of the Afton Town Hall, (4:10) and we hope to have it finished (4:14) sometime in the next year, (4:16) but we need everyone’s help to get this completed. (4:19) This is an eight-foot-tall by 20-foot-wide mural, (4:23) and what makes it unique (4:24) is that it is made up of 950 individual tiles (4:29) that we hope to have painted by members of our community, (4:33) and once all of those tiles are put together, (4:36) they’ll create one large image.

(4:38) We have planned three community paint days. (4:42) The first one is November 7th at the Afton Civic Center, (4:45) so people who want to be involved with that (4:49) will be able to pick up a tile kit (4:51) and either participate in the activity that day, (4:55) or they can take a tile kit home and paint it at home (4:57) and then return it to us, (4:59) and this is really a project for everyone. (5:02) You don’t have to consider yourself an artist (5:04) or have any painting experience to participate.

(5:07) Everything is self-contained in the kit, (5:10) and all the instructions and the information (5:12) and everything that you need to contribute (5:14) will be part of that kit, (5:16) and we would just love to have (5:19) everyone in the community be involved. (5:22) If you’re part of a group, (5:25) an adult group, a youth group, a pickleball group, (5:29) wherever you come from, (5:33) whatever your level of art or interest is, (5:35) we’d love to have you participate. (5:37) Come and pick up some kits or just one or two, (5:42) have your family reunion, get involved, (5:43) whatever works for you, just come and participate (5:46) and be part of this incredible 950 tile mural project.

(5:52) That is really cool, Janet, I love it. (5:55) So is the end goal result, (5:57) is the idea that it’s going to be, (6:00) everyone will, every tile will be a small piece (6:04) of a larger picture and it’s all gonna be done (6:06) as one big mural, (6:08) or is every individual tile its own individual piece? (6:13) Every tile contributes to a portion (6:16) or a section of a larger image. (6:19) So once it’s put together, (6:20) we have a larger image that the community can enjoy (6:24) and they can go up close and say, (6:27) hey, this is my tile, or this is my friend’s tile, (6:30) and it just really reflects the kind of mission (6:34) and culture that we are trying to create (6:37) with the Arts Council to bring our community together (6:40) to create beautiful art opportunities, (6:44) whether they’re performing arts (6:46) or visual arts in our community.

(6:48) And so if you’re interested in participating, (6:50) please go to our website and view our pages on social media (6:55) so that you can learn about opportunities (6:58) to be involved with this project. (7:00) That’s Janet Erickson, Chair of the Board (7:02) for the Star Valley Arts Council. (7:04) Details on all those events can be found (7:06) at starvalleyarts.org. (7:08) Janet, thank you so much for your time.

(7:10) Anything we missed that you’d like to mention today? (7:13) No, that’ll be everything for today. (7:15) Thanks again so much, Duke. (7:17) We really appreciate your support.

(7:19) Absolutely. (7:19) That’s Janet Erickson, Star Valley Arts Council. (7:21) This is the Weekday Wake Up on SVI Radio.