FT SCOTT, KS - Area artists like Debbie Grigsby Lynch of Prescott got a chance to show off their work during the first-ever "Arts off the Junction" Art Crawl Friday evening on downtown Main Street.
Lynch was one of more than a dozen artists and entertainers who participated in the event, which was designed to showcase their work and talent and promote and celebrate the arts in the community. Artists and entertainers were able to set up along a block of Main Street between First and Second streets for the event.
"I thought it went very well," Lynch, who also sings and works as a bookkeeper, said. "I think as more people learn about it, more people will come. There will be more people next month, I hope."
Organizers said the first event was successful enough that one event per month will be put together for the next few months.
"We're going to do the fourth Friday of the month through October," Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison said.
For the first event, the city roped off parking spots on the block of Main Street between First and Second streets where artists and/or vendors could set up.
"I enjoyed that they blocked off the parking spaces so there was lots of room for people to walk around," Lynch said. "The music around us was great. There was interaction with all of the artists and performers who were there. It was lots of fun."
Art that was available for viewing and sale included pottery, paintings and hand-crafted jewelry, just to name a few. Singers and musicians provided musical entertainment for attendees as they browsed the various art booths. Art for display needed to be creative, original and no national companies could be represented.
Activities for children and families were set up in a separate area near the green space at Wall and Main streets. Activities included a bounce house, a balloon pop with darts, face painting, a sidewalk chalk competition, playdough sculpting, an artwork sequence and Old Fort coloring. Members of the Young Professionals League helped with this area and gave out pool passes as prizes.
"We also appreciate the city's cooperation with the event and their efforts in helping," Madison said.
Organizers planned to conduct a meeting Monday to discuss Friday's event as well as ideas for future Art Crawl events that are scheduled to take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 23, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25, Madison said.
"Everything I heard was that it was well received," she said. "I received e-mails from people saying they thought it was a great event. Artists I talked to were excited about coming back."
Madison added that a couple of people she talked to that night had considered setting up art booths at the event "but came to check it out and see what it was like." Those artists plan to participate in a future Art Crawl event.
Lynch said she would participate in the Art Crawl again in the future and plans to be part of the August event.
She said she has painted "off and on" for more than 20 years.
"My interest started with drawing pictures in grade school and realizing I could draw pictures that looked like something," she said.
Lynch said she also sings once a month in a praise and worship band at her church, the First Baptist Church in Mound City. She said singing and painting are activities she enjoys on the side while working from home as a bookkeeper.
Lynch said she also works in calligraphy, which she called "kind of a lost art, it seems." Her artwork is available for sale and she can also create invitations for weddings and other events.
"One piece takes a few days," she said. "Now if there are hundreds of invitations, it may take a few weeks to get that done."
Madison said 13 art vendors signed up for the event. Local musician Ralph Carlson organized all of the musical entertainment.
"It's not limited to Fort Scott," she said. "Artists from outside the region are invited to participate. It's free to sign up a booth."
For more information, contact the chamber at (620) 223-3566.
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