Create Your Own Nightscene event planned for Thursday

Image submitted Artist Joanna Reid created an oil pastel of Cafe on Broadway to serve as an example of the night scenes that can be created in downtown Siloam Springs. A Create Your Own Night Scene event, hosted by Reid and Jen Butler, is planned for 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7. Free art supplies and refreshments will be provided at Ability Tree. Artists of all ages and levels of experience are welcome.
Image submitted Artist Joanna Reid created an oil pastel of Cafe on Broadway to serve as an example of the night scenes that can be created in downtown Siloam Springs. A Create Your Own Night Scene event, hosted by Reid and Jen Butler, is planned for 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7. Free art supplies and refreshments will be provided at Ability Tree. Artists of all ages and levels of experience are welcome.

Bundle up and break out the fingerless gloves. The Create Your Own Night Scene event, planned for 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, will give aspiring artists of all ages and levels a chance to try making pleinair artwork in downtown Siloam Springs.

The free event is organized by Jen Butler, director of Art Ability, and art instructor Joanna Reid. Supplies are provided at no cost and participants can pick up oil pastels, and black paper or panels at Ability Tree, then spread out throughout the downtown area to find a night scene to create. Ability Tree will also serve as a place for artists to warm up, should the weather be chilly, and will serve refreshments and hot drinks.

Plein air artwork refers to artwork that is done outdoors and often strives to capture natural lighting.

Butler and Reid said there are plenty of night scenes in downtown Siloam Springs, and Christmas lights will make the area especially bright. Artists will work independently, either on their own or with a group of other artists, but Butler and Reid will be available to answer questions. They can focus on something small such as a light pole, or take on an entire street, Reid said.

Plein air painter John Lasater plans to attend the art night, and Butler and Reid are inviting artists, from beginners to advanced, from across Northwest Arkansas to attend.

"I think kids would love it too, I mean all ages will have fun with (the art night)," Butler said.

Thriveint Financial donated $250 to provide the supplies for the event to make the evening accessible to everyone, Butler said. Artists are also invited to bring their own supplies if they have them.

Butler and Reid said they hope to create a sense of community and collaboration with local artists through the event. They also wanted to create an event that was accessible to everyone, they said.

"We're kind of hoping to put Siloam out there in general as a place that's really good for art education and a place to paint," Reid said. "I mean its really pretty here."

Both Butler and Reid have a vision to make downtown Siloam Springs into an art district. Reid pointed to a long list of art-related activity already occurring in Siloam Springs, such as Main Street Siloam Springs' public murals and sculptures, John Brown University's art program and gallery shows, the public school art program and the many artists in Siloam Springs.

Butler said when Ability Tree moves to its new location on Tahlequah Street, the current building will be turned into an art center, which will include a space for the Art Ability program, rooms for other classes, a gallery and a store. Like the Create Your Own Night Scene event, the art center will be for artists of all ages and levels.

"It'll be for everyone in the community, but of course my heart is special needs so it will be 100 percent inclusive for them as well," Butler said.

They are also planning to start a private Facebook group to help connect artists in Siloam Springs.

"If you are interested in knowing more about local art, come that night and introduce yourself so we can get connected with you," Reid said.

More information is available on the Create Your Own Night Scene Facebook page.

General News on 12/03/2017