January ArtStroll theme is Strolling with the Music

The Second Friday ArtStroll in downtown Thermopolis, Jan. 12 and 13, is themed as Strolling with the Music, kicking off the Smoking Waters Art Guild’s 2018 calendar. There will be artists showing and selling their creations, along with musicians at the businesses and a special musical activity from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday. Still Strolling Saturday continues Saturday during regular business hours. In addition to Smoking Waters Art Guild’s ArtStroll, other community organizations have events planned for the weekend.

Leopold Stokowski, a twentieth century conductor and arranger, described music as art this way: “A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.” This month’s ArtStroll will include musicians as they paint their pictures. Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center will be the base for a special musical presentation on Friday evening. “Songbirds” will entertain with beautiful music and will also have interactive opportunities for folks of all ages to try out instruments.

Flying Eagle Gallery, the host business, features Jondi Alcorn’s Spin Records. Tom Butler, owner of the gallery, and Sawdust Factory’s Jondi Alcorn recycle vinyl records by turning them into cool art clocks and earrings. Strollers can also check out the rest of Flying Eagle Gallery’s selection of original art and art supplies.

Just down the street you’ll find Angela Siems and her pastels and acylics. Siems grew up in Germany and her dad was a graphic artist. “Art and being creative has always been part of my life,” she said. “Vacation time was spent visiting art museums and sites in Europe. Basically, I received my art education as a young girl in Germany.” After raising a family and active ranch life in Wyoming, she took up painting again.

You may browse quilts on display and the extensive quilting and needlecraft inventory right next door. Shop owner Susan Turnbull is a great source for quilting and sewing information. Artists Robert and Beth Stehlin, who are new to the ArtStrolls will be featured. Print and copy-meister Howie Samelson had admired Robert’s and Beth’s art and invited them to participate in their first Stroll. Robert started out woodturning when his wife, Beth, asked a friend to build him a small lathe. He was hooked and started turning pens, moved up to a larger lathe and some better turning chisels, and “really started having fun”. With his goblets and chalices, he is really hooked now. Robert’s wife Beth started making hand embroidered cards about nine years ago with a friend. She “fell in love with making the cards.”

Across the street at Thermopolis’ favorite indie bookstore and coffee bar, Barbara Clothier and her photography and note cards will be on display. Pop around the corner, on North Fifth Street, to see a large and changing selection of handmade and repurposed items. Stephanie Conrad can tell you about the classes you can sign up for to make your own special gifts. And strollers can shop the Hospital Auxiliary New Year Bake Sale, jewelry by Ana Mosser, and repurposed items by Barb Rice and enjoy music by Harold Hutson, John Brooks and friends back on Broadway. 

In conjunction with the art and music activities on Friday night, the Hot Springs County Senior Center is hosting a Thermopolis Sip and Paint at the Center from 6-9 p.m. There is a small fee to participate

Saturday, the Hot Springs County Historical Society will present its first program of 2018 – The Woman in Blue, presented by historian Clay Gibbons.  The program takes place at the Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center and promises to be filled with mystery and intrigue for folks of all ages.  The event is free and refreshments will be served. 

Strollers are encouraged to pick up a map at any stroll business to find the location of artists and musicians. Return the map to the host business, Flying Eagle Gallery, at the end of Friday evening’s stroll to be entered to win a piece of artwork donated by the artists.

The Second-Friday ArtStroll and Still Strolling Saturday are organized by Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation and Smoking Waters Art Guild with additional help from Main Street Thermopolis, Hot Springs Travel & Tourism, and local businesses.