1st Annual Clara Brierly Festival of the Arts

Artmazing Festival!!!

The weather was beautiful, the art diverse and the attendees enthusiastic at the first annual Clara Brierly Festival of the Arts.

The Downtown Peculiar Arts & Culture District (DPACD) worked very hard to ensure this festival lived up to the town's name. Unlike most art festivals, the event wasn't just about visual art. There was performance art on the stage all weekend that ranged from a classical musician playing the viola to the Cowtown Cloggers; from contemporary Christian music to an original design fashion show put on by Fashion for Life. The pickers' tent was hopping both nights with musicians from all over the metro area and beyond who joined to play together to the delight of those who brought their lawn chairs and tapped their toes. Internationally known chainsaw sculptor, Ken Tynan, mesmerized the crowds and vendors alike with his live carving demonstration which was sponsored by local merchant TC Heating & Cooling. The wood flew, the chainsaw roared and from two dead trees emerged an owl and a wolf that are now part of the developing public art walk in the Downtown arts district. Members of the Irish band Kelly showed up to play in the beer garden on Friday night.

The workshop and demonstration tent was busy with hypertufa, origami, artist trading cards, henna painting and pottery classes just to name a few. The mosaic workshop involved the public in a lasting piece of public art at the sign plaza located on the north west side of Main and Broadway. Children were encouraged to art up the streets with sidewalk chalk and their imaginations.

DPACD unveiled our book and DVD written about local artist and beloved community member Clara Brierly as well as Peculiar postcards, t-shirts and festival logo bags. Information on the revitalization of Downtown and upcoming events and projects were answered as well.

Our artist vendors, our attendees and our performers are all eager to come back. One seasoned arts festival vendor remarked "This festival is going to be huge, keep doing what you're doing. I will definitely be back next year." So, mark your calendar for next year's event on June 11 - 13, 2010.

Financial assistance for this project was provided by the Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, with Challenge America funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, who believes that a great nation deserves great art.