JAMESTOWN — This season of the Downtown Arts Market focuses on local talent, says Mindi Schmitz, executive director of The Arts Center.
“In the past, we’ve brought in some more regional artists like namely Jessie Veeder and Chuck Suchy,” she said, “but this year we’re kind of going local and promoting our own folks. Giving them an opportunity.”
The Downtown Arts Market begins on Thursday, July 10, and runs on subsequent Thursdays through Aug. 28 in the Hansen Arts Park from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Admission is free, and if it rains, the event will be canceled.
Schmitz noted that the street in front of the Hansen Arts Park, 100 2nd St. SW, will not be closed during the Downtown Arts Market.
The Downtown Arts Market includes musical and other performances along with activities and artisan vendors. Last year, from 100 to 300 people took in the Downtown Arts Market on a given night, Schmitz said.
Schmitz said there are a few performers returning this year along with new groups.
“We’re bringing back Heather Rae, she’s from Nashville, so she’s one of our big artists,” she said. “The Blue Wailers, they have roots here in Jamestown and they’re a fan favorite.”
Also returning is Stick Ponies, Schmitz said.
“Last year we had the Kulm City Band and people really seemed to like that, so we brought them back,” she added.
Other performers include the Buffalo Alice Band with Ken Gilbertson and company which performs rock, Schmitz said, and another band with a similar name, Buffalo Alice, which is from the Enderlin area and performs country.
Drift North and Back Porch Band, both from Jamestown, are scheduled to perform as well.
Opening acts begin at 5:30 p.m. and will include Late Start with Linda Roesch, Terresa Davis and Mark Steinbach; Payton Walker, a country singer from Bismarck, and Top O’ the Stairs Dance Studio. On nights when there is no opening act scheduled, the headliner will begin performing at 5:30 p.m., Schmitz said.
“There’ll be some community activities, art activities,” she added.
She expects on a few of those nights to have pottery painting in the Hansen Arts Studio. People will be able to pick out a pottery piece, pay for it and paint it, and The Arts Center will glaze it.
Also planned is a community art project partnered with Anne Carlsen Center on Aug. 7, Schmitz said.
Artisan vendors are sought and encouraged to be part of the Arts Market.
During the Arts Market activities in August, The Arts Center’s art gallery will feature Rob Anderson’s exhibit, “Relationships.” Anderson is primarily a printmaker who creates monoprint or monotypes using ink and acrylic paint on watercolor paper and rice papers.
Schmitz said sponsors are the reason that the Downtown Arts Market is possible.
“It’s a mix of organizations and businesses in town and we really appreciate their sponsorship. This is a free event for the community every Thursday,” she said.
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What: Downtown Arts Market
When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays beginning July 10 through Aug. 28
Where: Hansen Arts Park, 100 2nd St. SW
Admission: free
*Event is canceled if it rains
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July 10: Stick Ponies
July 17: Drift North
July 24: Blue Wailers with Late Start (opener)
July 31: Heather Rae with Payton Walker (opener)
Aug. 7: Buffalo Alice Band with Anne Carlsen Center community art project (opener)
Aug. 14: Kulm City Band with Top O’ the Stairs Dance Studio
Aug. 21: Buffalo Alice
Aug. 28: Back Porch Band
Kathy Steiner has been the editor of The Jamestown Sun since 1995. She graduated from Valley City State College with a bachelor’s degree in English and studied mass communications at North Dakota State University, Fargo. She reports on business, government and community topics in the Jamestown area. Reach her at 701-952-8449 or ksteiner@jamestownsun.com.
