Textile art and Relay for Life theme of ArtStroll

Smoking Waters Art Guild and Relay for Life have partnered this month for a very busy and fun Friday/Saturday event on Aug. 12 and 13. 

“For thousands of years, those who made our garments and our household goods went beyond the necessary to create beautiful works of wearable and usable art,” said Sue Blakey, who works on the Wyoming Fiber Arts project. “And most of the time, the makers are unknown once the textile changes hands. So textile artisans rarely get the recognition they deserve”.

To celebrate those individuals and their skills, the ArtStroll will have local and regional artisans showing their work. This month, downtown textile businesses will be honored. 

The Second Friday ArtStroll from 5-8 p.m., will also feature live music, refreshments and door prizes. Most downtown businesses are open during the event. Several artists will be demonstrating on Still Strolling Saturday.

Gooseberry Garden Quilt Shop is this month’s host business. Susan Turnbull will be sharing her expertise during the stroll. Turnbull moved to Thermopolis from South Central California and is no stranger to our community. Her husband, Jack, has worked for The Wyoming Dinosaur Center and they have spent a lot of time here over the years. 

Strollers are encouraged to pick up a map at any stroll business and return the map to the host business at the end of Friday evening’s Stroll. Names will then be drawn and winners will receive a piece of art work donated by the artists.

Dan Herdt and his staff will demonstrate their embroidery machine Friday evening.  Terry Sani will be on hand showing his colorful cardboard bird decoys. 

Lisa Blakesley will be demonstrating chill factor/neck wraps and headbands. Andrea Linn, Joyce Fletcher and Jane Oldridge will be showing off their textile art and Susan Lankford will be demonstrating healing oils.

A multi-talented favorite, Sallie Wesaw, will be welcoming strollers to view her textile art that knows no boundaries. Strollers will enjoy the variety, including baskets from various plant materials and her unusual felt and fabric creations.

A textile artist new to the stroll is Rachel Turner. Rachel will be demonstrating the almost lost art of Rug Hooking.

Watch for art on display from the younger creative members of our community. 

Artist Kay Beall is also new to the ArtStroll and will be showing acrylics on various surface. Beall has liked to draw since she was a child, starting in 4-H, and then art classes in high school. While living in Thermopolis in the 1980s, she took acrylic painting lessons and then discovered Betty Jo O’Neal who introduced Beall to painting on saws. Beall and her husband live in Worland. 

Jennifer Taylor will be on hand featuring her handmade goat soap and lotions.

There will be a Millinery Show, pulling from the Hot Springs County Museum’s collection of vintage and historical hats. Stephanie Conrad and Stefanie Gilbert will be demonstrating the joys of chalk paint. 

Mary Frix Bell returns to the stroll with her multimedia work.

Enjoy Ana Mosser’s jewelry and Barb Rice’s repurposed artwork.

Relay for Life will hold their annual event in downtown Thermopolis Friday evening. The state theme is Color Your World Purple.

A survivor’s dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by booths and entertainment along the stroll path.

A special section will have games and make it and take it art activities for children.

The Relay for Life event wraps up Saturday morning at 2 a.m.

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.