What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1467734
Meet The Artists Zeek Taylor Zeek's Studio Location: 12 White St. "During my first year in school at the age of 5, I won first place in an art contest for a crayon portrait of my mother," Taylor says. "I drew her hair in circles with a mahogany-colored crayon, and in the picture, I gave her almost perfectly round cheeks with a carnation pink crayon. My prize was a Chick-O-Stick that I devoured during recess. After winning the contest, there was never any doubt in my mind that I wanted to become an artist." Describe the art you create: I'm primarily a painter working in watercolor and acrylic. I also do some three-dimensional work in the form of shadow boxes. What inspires you to make art? I often ask myself that question, and I have yet to come up with a good answer. I do know that I don't know how to not make art. Perhaps the best answer is that I want to add joy and beauty to the world. The images I create are pleasing, often whimsical, and loaded with color. I hope I'm achieving that goal. See more: zeektaylor.com, the Curated Gallery in Eureka Springs, Art Ventures in Fayetteville and M2 Gallery in Little Rock. Taylor's prints, cards, and an art book are available in the Crystal Bridges Museum Store in Bentonville. Mary Springer Mary Springer Art Location: 33 White St. "Owning an original piece of art gives you a little bit of the artist's creativity that is unique and can give you pleasure," Springer says. Describe the art you create: Multifaceted. Paintings, sculpture, found and profound jewelry. What inspires you to make art? Nature and the figure. Barbara Kennedy Location: 10 White St. "When you have an original piece of art in your home, you not only have a piece that you love, you have a bit of the artist hanging there, too," Kennedy says. "Every piece has not only the moment in time that it was created, but the years of experience and soul that each artist puts into his or her art." Describe the art you create: In early 2020, I experienced an overnight severe vision loss, and I am now considered legally blind. As a result, my painting style has changed significantly. My central vision is very limited, so I work mainly with color, abstract images, shapes and textures. Since I can no longer focus where the brush meets canvas, I have developed a tactile technique for applying the cold wax and oil paint that is working well for me — yes, finger painting! What inspires you to make art? Everything inspires me. Images emerge from everyday life situations and people, from nature, from my imagination and my dreams. Contact: Email bkennedystudio@ gmail.com Mark Hughes Regalia Handmade Clothing Location: 16 White St. Hughes says his first memory of being an artist is "making a skirt for my GI Joe doll out of his parachute." Describe the art you create: Original handmade linen clothing, specialty OOAK couture, and retro fashions. What inspires you to make art? I'm inspired by the materials — fabric will tell you what it wants to be made into. I just listen and sew. See more: South Main Creative in Little Rock, regaliahandmadeclothing. com and bingbangboomerang.com Steve Beacham Spring Street Pottery Location: In front of Regalia Handmade Clothing at 16 White St. "Owning original art gives you an item no one else has," Beacham says. "It shows a glimpse of your personal taste. It is something that generations of a family can make part of their history. Owning original art can change a person's perception of the world. It can make you smile or bring tears." Describe the art you create: Utilitarian and whimsical pottery. What inspires you to make art? I love to take a lump of clay and create a piece that can be used or admired daily. It is a connection to a past that may be all that represents that civilization. Pottery endures more than any other art form. See more: Curated by Le Vie Company, 67 Spring St., and Town Shop, 9 Spring St., both in Eureka Springs Jeff Danos Testube Location: In front of Zeek Taylor's Studio, 12 White St. "Very few individuals in this world can say that they get to make a living MAY 15-21, 2022 WHAT'S UP! 9 Jeff Danos calls his work "off purpose art." (Courtesy Photo) Steve Beacham describes his work as "utilitarian and whimsical pottery." (Courtesy Photo) "I'm inspired by the materials — fabric will tell you what it wants to be made into. I just listen and sew," Mark Hughes says. (Courtesy Photo) One of the unique things about the White Street Walk is Zeek Taylor's commitment to serving "a bushel of cookies" to his visitors. "My mother taught me that all good southerners offer food and drink to their guests, and even though my guests for the evening number in the hundreds, I try to have enough refreshments to serve everyone." (Courtesy Photo) White Street Walk co-founder Mary Springer says she creates "paintings, sculpture, found and profound jewelry." (Courtesy Photo) "Images emerge from everyday life situations and people, from nature, from my imagination and my dreams," says Barbara Kennedy. (Courtesy Photo) See White Street Page 38