Sip N Paint artwork on display during ArtStroll

Sip N Paint and Cork N Canvas painters will have their work on display at the Hot Springs County Museum, Friday June 8, 5-8 p.m., during the Second Friday ArtStroll. Most downtown businesses are open during the event. A Juice Box Sip N Paint art activity will be the highlight of this stroll. 

The Summer Time ArtStroll kicks off Friday evening with artists, demonstrations, live music and receptions. The event is family friendly.  Many art activities will take place including chalk drawing on sidewalks and coloring to relax at ArtStroll host business WOW Store.  The Juice Box Sip N Paint will be held at the Hot Springs County Museum Friday evening at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. Bring your whole family, no matter how young, and paint a picture of a night scene with a bear, coyote or horse. The activity is free and all participants will take home a painting.

The featured artist for this month’s ArtStroll is Rodney Skenandore, Elk Chief who was born in Montana.  After serving in the Army in Europe, and later in Southeast Asia, he earned a BA in Engineering Design and Drafting from a design school in Denver.  He then worked for NASA.  He slowly developed his interest in art and has created many works in various media, including design, jewelry, wood carving, stone sculptures, furniture and music writing.  Since the late 1990’s, he has concentrated more on the art and his task as a healer for Mother Earth, nature and humans, and as a spiritual teacher.  Skenandore considers “all of life as an art, a way of being dedicated to the positive spirits of life and healing.”  Skenandore returned to the United States in 2015 after living in the Harz Mountains in Germany.  He and wife, Gudrun, recently moved to Thermopolis and they look forward to being a part of the art community here.

Sherry Stottler and Diana Scranton, both from Worland, will be displaying their work during the stroll. Stottler, a soft pastel artist says a chance enrollment in a one-day pastel class was all it took to create a passion and a purpose upon Sherry’s retirement as a Presbyterian minister.  She believes everyone has an “artist” inside of them – the joy is allowing it to come out and then appreciating every creative gift that gets expressed…and always, always having fun. Scranton became interested in beads in the 1980s.  She and her daughters would craft bracelets, necklaces and earrings; some for personal use and some for gifts. For many years, she collected a variety of beads with “someday” in mind.  Just recently Scranton has been able to begin the “somedays” and has spent many hours working on projects much to her delight and satisfaction.

Other artists joining the ArtStroll include Sallie Wesaw, multi-media; Joyce Fletcher, Andrea Linn and Jane Oldridge, textiles; Terry Sani, cardboard bird decoys; Mark Mount, slumped bottles; Barb Rice, repurposing art and Ana Mosser, jewelry; Jennifer Taylor, goat milk soap; Stephanie Conrad and Stephanie Gilbert repurposing art and Cindy Toth, textiles.

Musicians will be playing at several locations during the Friday ArtStroll, including Mike Howland, Michael and Jacky Wright with Harold Hutson and Shawn McWilliams and Rick Phipps.

Second Friday ArtStroll host business is WOW Store. Be sure to pick up a map to guide you to other participating businesses. End your Friday evening stroll at the host business for a chance to win art pieces and gift certificates.

Still Strolling Saturday will feature artists and art activities.  Saturday’s activities include a Juice Box Sip N Paint for families at 11 a.m. at Hot Springs County Museum. Thermopolis Rehab and Care Center will be hosting a Carnival Celebration from 1-4 p.m. at 1210 Canyon Hills Road.

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 and Hot Springs Travel & Tourism.