To celebrate May’s Festival of Art, Eureka Springs Gallery Association members have gallery strolls every Saturday of the month!   Gallery Strolls are from 6 to 9 p.m.   Here are just a few of the delights in store for the stroll on Saturday, May 12th :

Eureka Thyme will celebrate Carol Dickie and her mixed media paintings in a style she refers to as abstract naturalism. Her mixture of watercolor, acrylic, pastel, and charcoal combines to create exciting interpretations of the beauty of Arkansas nature.  19 Spring Street, 363-9600.

Studio 62 in Eureka Springs continues its 7th Annual Art as Prayer—a month-long exhibition of original works, utilizing art as a vehicle to spirituality. Open 10-5 daily except Wednesdays. Studio 62 is the gallery of resident artists, Jody Stephenson and Ron Lutz.   On Highway 62 West in Eureka Springs, next to Bavarian Inn. 479.363.9209.

During the entire month, Artifacts has donated space for the 3rd Annual Eureka Springs Invitational Art Show, where more than 50 selected, local, artists will be displaying their works for purchase.   Artifacts Folk & Fine Art Gallery is now located at 37 Spring Street, Upper Level.  363-6660.

And on Saturday, May 12th, Artifacts is hosting an Artist Demonstration with Jimmy Leach from 3:00 – 6:00, and from 6 – 9 p.m. you can Meet the Artists Judith Leswig, who creates soft sculpted dolls, and painter Jimmy Leach will again be on hand to visit guests to the gallery.  .37 Spring Street, Upper Level  363-6660.

Susan Morrison Signature Gallery is hosting a champagne buffet, beginning at 7 p.m., as part of The Arts are Elegant, a gallery stroll where Susan will be showing her most beautiful works including landscapes, animals, and poetry.  Cocktail attire is suggested.  60 Spring Street, 253-8788.

Photographer Chuck Thomas, whose evocative, sometimes haunting but always beautiful images capture nearby  landscapes and ghost towns, will be on hand at The Prospect Gallery.  Come talk to Chuck and, when you see his photographs, get a new look at our beautiful Ozarks, including some hidden places you may have missed before!  42 Prospect, 253-5012.

Imagine a place where rare images of beauty were displayed every hour, delicate works of art that had never been seen before and can be seen only once. Ralph Waldo Emerson when he wrote “…each moment of the year has its own beauty, …every hour, a picture which was never seen before, … shall never be seen again.” believed these images were created by nature every moment. Waiting to be discovered, nature’s most creative work is on display along the Arkansas Art Trail. There, visitors discover places where art and nature come together and where threads of discovery, exploration and reverence for the American landscape weave compelling tapestries that illustrate the American experience, both past and present.

During the month of April, in partnership with the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, the Arkansas Art Trail introduces “The American Experience” as celebrated in Arkansas through art, music, dance and literature in ways that are as enigmatic as the Arkansas landscape.

The Arkansas Art Trail was inspired by the Hudson River School Art Trail. In the 19th century, artists of the Hudson River School captured iconic landscapes of the northeast with paint. Following the example of American writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, they sought an “original relation to the universe” through a life of simplicity and independence. In the process, American artists defined what it was to be American and helped shape a national identity that valued individualism and rugged beauty.

Today, artists are still creating defining work. The American landscape, both rugged and fragile, is an inspiration. The Arkansas Art Trail highlights unique architecture created with purpose and fundamental connections to the land. It stops for breathtaking vistas and wild rivers, and introduces visitors to the artists working in the Arkansas landscape. The trail offers a deeper look at the side of Arkansas many have never seen.

April’s art experiences are limited but embody year round appeal. Visitors to the Arkansas Art Trail are sure to discover moments of beauty “never seen before.” A visit to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art provides an opportunity to see original 19th century Hudson River School paintings and a stop in Eureka Springs, a Top 25 Arts Destination, allows visitors to simply watch regional artists paint in plein aire or get creative with an art class, enjoy the music of esteemed international musicians or sit down to an authentic hootenanny. Visitors will experience life in a historic town and marvel in contemporary architecture that celebrates the beauty of the outdoors.

Here are just a few of the Arkansas Art Trail’s “April Art Experiences” packages that the partnering Crescent Hotel has put together:

• Artist Studio Tour – Take a docent led tour of the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa and see local artist, Larry Mansker’s murals. Meet Mansker in his art studio for a glass of wine and then settle down for a splendid dinner with the docent and Mansker at the Chef’s table in the Crystal Dining Room Restaurant.
• Photography Exhibit & Workshop – Explore the Ozarks with renowned landscape photographer and local artist, Edward C. Robison III. The evening starts with a hands-on workshop under Robison’s tutelage. Participants will hear some helpful tips and then get to shoot their own images of the Ozark Mountains and the Beaver Lake region with the knowledge learned. The next day those images captured at sundown the day before will be discussed with suggestions from Robison. He will even present advanced digital photo editing “tricks” so future images will be even closer to being “picture perfect
• Meet an Artist in Residence – Learn to paint abstract birds, flowers and landscapes with artist Karrie Evenson. Evenson will be working in residence at the Crescent Hotel. Meet the artist and watch her paint one evening while casually enjoying wine and cheese. For more information on the Arkansas Art Trail, one should go to arkansasarttrail.com and for complete “April Art Experiences” packages, one should go to reserveeureka.com/eureka-springs-featured-attraction.shtml

We caught the bug and are now pinning away on Pinterest all of the beautiful things we find in Eureka Springs! Follow along as we share our lovely town with the world! We will be sharing shopping, eating, relaxing, art, lodging and more on our fun Pinterest pages!

Come help Eureka Springs light up the night during two interactive art events. Families are invited to bring their kids out of the Electroglyphs at Harding Spring on Friday, April 13th 7:00-9PM. They will draw in the sky with LED lights while Framed by Amber, a local photographer, captures their squiggle. Those images will then be placed on the bluff by artist and photographer, Jeremy McGraw during the 8+ hours of computer time. He will meld your child’s drawing into a one of a kind art piece.

While Framed by Amber is shooting photos of the LED artwork being created just for her, Jeremy and his team will be lighting up the spring with hundreds of LED lights. Don’t miss your opportunity to watch how he captures the Creative Energy at Harding Spring.

On Saturday, during Drumming in the Park, Angelo and the drummers will glow in the dark and Jeremy and his team will be there to capture it all. Wendy Le Fey will be on hand to paint glow in the dark faces and glow sticks will abound during this night time drumming spectacle. This free event is open to everyone – come be part of the rythum and play in Basin Spring Park, Saturday, April 14th 6-9PM. All photographers are welcome to come shoot the spectacle!

Both events will then be captured by one image and displayed in Basin Spring Park during the May Festival of the Arts. To keep up with the project your can follow along on Facebook at The Creative Energy Project.

Please support our sponsors for making the Creative Energy Project 2012 Possible:

Blue Spring Heritage Center

Groves Karate

Local Flavor Cafe

Mud Street Cafe

Peace Love and Cheesecake

The 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa

The Basin Park Hotel

The Cathouse Lounge

The Fine Art of Romance

The Grand Central Hotel

The Greater, Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce

The Stone House Wine Bar

The Queen Anne Preservation Trust

Eureka Springs Postcards and Photography

Eureka Springs Downtown Network

Dance. Hoop. Play.

The night will light up at the Creative Energy Project party in Basin Spring Park. Music in Motion – DJ Sean Hearn will spin the records while international photographer, Jeremy McGraw, shoots the action for the upcoming show in May.

Come get your dance on, in Basin Spring Park. Thursday, March 29.

Part of Spring Break 2012 – Come Play in Eureka Springs, Your Favorite Playground!

Getting your green on just got more fun! Don’t miss the chance to play in your favorite playground this spring! Start it all off with the luck of the Irish at our Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a pint of your favorite green beer or shopping for something to get your green on!

The parade rolls down Spring Street in Downtown Eureka Springs on March 17th at 2PM – get there early for a good seat to see the spectacle! After the parade you can join the Pub Crawl that starts at Pied Piper Pub & Inn on Main Street or go listen to one of the many great bands playing in clubs all over town.

Do you have the little ones with you? Take in the tigers at Turpentine Creek, grab a seat at Intrigue Theater, take a tour of Downtown, or listen to the good tunes at Pine Mountain Theater – fun is just a hop skip and jump away on St. Patrick’s Day! In the month of March you can save 15% off on attraction and show tickets! This is a great time to save and play in Eureka Springs! Click here to save!

Mark your calendars for the Third Thursday of the Month in Eureka Springs, AR for Cocktails for a Cause! This new event will rotate around all the bars and pubs downtown and will support a different cause. March is hosted by the Voulez Vous Lounge (63 Spring Street) and supports Good Shepherd Humane Society and their host, Eureka Springs Downtown Network. A worthy cause, a great location &  a great time! Can’t make it this time? April 19, 2012 will be at Devito’s of Eureka Springs and support People Helping People and ESDN! Plan for that!

Want to keep up with everything happening downtown? Like our Facebook page! We post all the good stuff there!

Spring Break 2012 • Eureka Springs, AR

Sponsored by: Pine Mountain Theater

Monday, March 26: The Biggest Bingo Game

Sponsored by: Pine Mountain Theater & Blue Spring Heritage Center

Tuesday, March 27: Terrific Twister

Sponsored by: Pine Mountain Theater & Blue Spring Heritage Center

Wednesday, March 28: Watercolor Eureka Springs Postcards

Sponsored by: Practical Magic Art Supply & Eureka Springs Postcards

Thursday, March 29:Dance Party in the Park

Sponsored by: Music in Motion DJ

Friday, March 30: John Walter Morrison Great American Songbook

Sponsored by: Pine Mountain Theater

Saturday, March 31: John Walter Morrison Great American Songbook

Sponsored by: Pine Mountain Theater

Love shopping? Looking for Fun Dining? Playing at night? We have you covered there too! Sponsoring shops will be hosting Crack the Egg specials! You open the egg and out rolls a discount, freebie or other fun gift – everywhere you go in Eureka Springs during Spring Break 2012 is like playing in the World’s Greatest Playground! Don’t miss it! Plan on bringing your family, the girlfriends or your sweetie this year to explore and escape to Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Looking for Crack the Egg Specials? These shops are participating – you crack the egg for the chance to save! Head in and see what savings you can get this Spring Break!

Spring Break in Eureka Springs is a Great Place to be a Kid (Again!)
The entire town is your playground! Looking for something special to do to celebrate spring, Eureka Springs, Arkansas has what you need.

Families Find Fun and Make Memories

Finding fun things to do for the kids is easy in Eureka Springs. The entire town is filled with things to explore and discover. Do they love hiking and treasure hunting? You might bring them out to Geocache! This fun family activity is a great way to explore a town. With very little expertise or equipment (there are apps for your phone) you can search for hidden treasure all over Eureka Springs.

Does your little one love animals? Don’t miss a chance to see the big cats at Turpentine Creek. These rescued cats are beautiful – and even if you have been to a zoo you get MUCH closer (but safe) to these sweeties! They stretch, roar, and play right in front of you. Lions, tigers and even a bear await you at this amazing animal rescue.

During Spring Break (March 19 – 31, 2012) there will be FREE Family activities in Basin Spring Park Monday – Saturday from 4-6PM. Join the biggest Bingo Game, play Twister with a ton of people, go on a Spring Egg Hunt, Watercolor, Hula Hoop to the beat of a DJ or go on a scavenger hunt. These free, fun activities are all part of why it is great to be a kid in Eureka Springs!