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Art by the River Fine Art Festival scheduled June 3

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Umbrella Arts was the first sponsor of Art by the River. Group leader Juanita Loven presented Guttenberg Gallery and Creativity Center Manager Molly Moser with a check for the event. (Photo submitted)

By Molly Moser

Guttenberg Gallery & Creativity Center has announced its first annual Art by the River Fine Art Festival & Workshop, set for Saturday, June 3, at Ingleside Park in Guttenberg. The free event will showcase the work of area artists and will offer workshops, live music and food all day long.

“Our inspiration for this event comes from three sources,” said Guttenberg Gallery and Creativity Center (GGCC) Director Cindy Olsen. “First, GGCC has a mission to support and promote area artists and provide opportunities to learn about and participate in the arts. Secondly, we have our own pretty work of art in Ingleside Park, which in my opinion is underutilized and one of the prettiest river vistas in the area. Finally, over the past eight years GGCC has paved the way for the arts in Guttenberg and now Guttenberg has Umbrella Arts, Bent Willow Gallery, and the first annual art show - all of this fulfilling a mission to bring more arts to our community.”

The weekend begins with the June 2 premier of the 2017 River of Music Concert Series, coordinated by Umbrella Arts. Local musicians from The Side Project will play from 6-8 p.m. in the band shelter north of Clayton Ridge Elementary. 

Kicking off the art festival on June 3 is a free yoga class in the park at 9 a.m., taught by long-time instructor Caroline Rosacker. The class is for all levels and will emphasize a colorful practice. Riverside Wellness will provide supplies for making prayer flags during the event, and three remote-control fish blimps will be floating through the sky. 

White tents will line the sidewalk along the Mississippi River as ragional artists display their work from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Artists will offer demonstrations throughout the day.

“We are still accepting exhibitor applications,” said Olsen, who encourages artists to apply prior to April 10. Already accepted applicants will come from Guttenberg, Elkader, Strawberry Point, Mt. Vernon, Monona and Harpers Ferry; Winter, Wis., and St. Charles, Ill. These include photographers; jewelers, wood and fiber artists; and those who specialize in drawing and painting.

Youth art activities will be offered at no cost from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the gazebo. Workshops for adults include 11 a.m. watercolor led by Esmann Island artist Cindy Lynch, 12:30 p.m. river chimes led by Creativity Center volunteers, 2 p.m. zentangles led by Clayton County artist Ann McCullough, and opportunities to experiment with wheel pottery from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Festival attendees can observe or join plein air painters scattered through Ingleside Park as they capture the beauty of the Mississippi River vista. 

Live music starts at 10 a.m. with vocals and keys by Sophia Landis, followed by Jon Stravers at 1 p.m. Bruce Bryant as Carpe Diem will play from 3:30-5:30 p.m., and Darrell & The Georges will headline the event, playing from 6-8 p.m. 

Lynn Moser, a popular vendor at Guttenberg’s summer events, will provide festival fare including cotton candy and funnel cakes. After giving local restaurants the opportunity to participate, organizers have also received commitments from Wild Fryers, who serve unique french fry creations, and Brainfreezers sno-cones, who will bring food trucks to the festival. On Sunday, June 4, Guttenberg Gallery & Creativity Center’s Artisan Café will offer brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Art by the River Fine Art Festival & Workshop is provided at no charge to attendees thanks to sponsors Alpine Communications, Clayton County Foundation for the Future, Fidelity Bank & Trust, Kwik Trip, Peoples State Bank, and Umbrella Arts, as well as hospitality sponsors Eagle Ridge Independent & Assisted Living and Kaffee 1858.

“We hope that community members will attend this festival full of activities for children and adults, to listen to the music, eat a funnel cake or a sno-cone, and look at some fabulous art,” said Olsen.

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