July ArtStroll features textiles

Textile arts of all kinds will be featured during the Second-Friday ArtStroll in downtown Thermopolis, July 10, 5-8 p.m. The W.O.W. Store is the host business. An Artists’ Reception will be held Friday evening and artists and demonstrators continue Still Strolling Saturday, during regular business hours. Strollers will enjoy a visual treat from the variety of wares for sale, on display, and in demonstrations. Summer is a perfect time to treat yourself to a new work of art or to learn a new technique.

Pick up a Stroll map at any Stroll business to find the location of artists, demonstrators and musicians. Return the map to the host business on Friday evening to be entered to win a piece of art donated by the artists.

Folks will take up textile arts for many different reasons, and end up enjoying healthful benefits from these activities. Deb Stewart, a multimedia artist who creates in many types of needlearts and is a retired mental health professional, explains her passion as “encouraging others to explore art and to use it for self-discovery. My work as a mental health professional in healthcare settings reinforced my confidence in how making art is a healing force in our lives.”

Deb Stewart will feature her fibrearts on Friday night, along with Gavin Turner who will demonstrate cording to knot a bracelet. Kits will be available to purchase to try your hand at bracelet making.

Donald Vincent, who first took up knitting in 2009 as a way of coping with depression from homelessness and difficulties of ADHD, will be showing his knitting techniques and share his interest in the history of textile arts, and how he learned that men were traditionally involved in knitting and other needlearts.

Nellie Corley will share samples of her lifetime of quilt making along with a birthday cake celebrating her 89th birthday. Other local quilters will have their work on display at various businesses.

Rachel Turner will be doing rug hooking demonstrations and will have items for sale.

Bring the whole family for Friday evening’s art activity at Hot Springs County Museum. There will be a textile-themed scavenger hunt and an opportunity for everyone to Color Thermopolis on the Smoking Waters Art Guild’s large mural, Friday evening from 5-8 p.m.

Be on the lookout for textile artworks by Sallie Wesaw, jewelry by local artists Jennie Blakesley and Anna Mosser, repurposing items by Stephanie Conrad and Barb Rice, along with the “textile gals,” Joyce Fletcher, Andrea Linn and Jane Oldridge. Susan Langford will have healing oils on hand and Jennifer Taylor will have handmade soaps and lotions.

You’ll find music by Harold Hutson and friends as well as some folk and country tunes by Mike Howland. And if you’re feeling brave, there will be “Open Mic Night” on Friday.

If you’re looking for something sweet, the Hospital Auxiliary’s Bake Sale will be right down your alley.

Still Strolling Saturday will feature Stewart demonstrating how to use a Sizzix machine for cutting fabric, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday evening is an opportunity to honor the memory of a most talented musician and good friend, Rick Phipps. The Rick Phipps Second Annual Memorial Concert will take place at the Pavilion in the Hot Springs State Park from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Donations will benefit the Hot Springs Hospice Foundation.

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 our local businesses, Main Street Thermopolis and Hot Springs Travel & Tourism.