Ozark Living

Bowen said she drew inspiration for the gallery from quarterly art walks held in downtown Russellville. "I want (the gallery) to have the feel of a downtown art walk, but I want that vibe all of the time," she said. "I love art walks like the art walks we do here, but I want art walks every day." Beyond providing a show space for artists, the mission of Wild Creek Art is to provide a welcoming place for the public to experience art and explore new ways to interact with artists, Bowen said. She further hopes to encourage new people to try their hands at expressing themselves through art. Toward that end, Wild Creek Art also features four semi-private studios available to rent where an artist can not only display past creations but also create new ones while interacting with the public. Ralph McCormick, an artist currently featured at Wild Creek Art, appreciates that chance at interaction, he said. McCormick said he has been painting since the 1970s and that he travels quite a bit and enjoys painting what he sees in his travels, but that sometimes his art makes human interaction take a back seat. "(Wild Creek Art) is very important to some of us who have been kind of – how should I say it – reclusive about art," McCormick said. "A gallery like this gets us out in the open more." McCormick doesn't consider himself a professional painter, "but I enjoy what I do," he said. "is gives me a chance to show my art, and she (Bowen) is really helping get us artists out there." While each piece on display at Wild Creek Art is for sale by the artists, that opportunity for artist-public interaction is an important distinction for Bowen. "(Wild Creek Art) is not, nor will it ever be, a flea market or a cra fair," she said. Classroom space is also available at Wild Creek Art Gallery for private art parties, painting or other classes and much more, Bowen said. For example, the facility hosted a holiday ornament-making workshop for children the first weekend in December, Bowen said, and other public events are being planned. Additionally, Wild Creek Art includes venue space for both public and private events, Bowen said. She hopes patrons will make use of the venue space for art shows, as well as weddings, business events and more throughout the year. e venue space even includes a full kitchen, which can be used for catering events, she added. Beth Owen, another artist currently featured at Wild Creek Art, said she chose to display her abstract impressionist works at the gallery because she found a kindred spirit in Bowen. Owen, a northwest Arkansas resident, said she grew up surrounded by painters as both her mother and maternal grandfather were painters, and that she is encouraged by being around other artists. "Art has always been in me," Owen said, adding of Bowen that "… she is a true gallery owner who works equally hard for all of her artists." McCormick also had words of praise for Bowen and Wild Creek Art. "She (Bowen) has acquired such a mass of people, and all from little Russellville, AR," McCormick said. "She is breaking boundaries. is is a really big effort in a little bitty town." Wild Creek Art Gallery's winter hours are noon-7 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, allowing ample time for visitors to come by aer work or on weekends, Bowen said. Hours of operation will expand during the summer months to noon-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. General admission to Wild Creek Art is free to the public, but there may be fees for classes or special events. Anyone interested in displaying their art in any media at the gallery or booking a class or other event in the space should contact Bowen at (479) 567-5805 or peg@wildcreekart.com. Artists are charged for their displays based on the amount of wall space they occupy, Bowen said, and special events are charged based on the event and timing. Wild Creek Art Gallery is active on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wildcreekart/, and Bowen encouraged anyone interested to watch the gallery Facebook page for other upcoming classes and announcements. Bowen is also hard at work on the gallery's own website, which will be available soon at www.wildcreekart.com. If you go ... Wild Creek Art Gallery 208 W. Main St. Russellville, AR Winter hours: Noon -7 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays (closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day) 479-567-5805 peg@wildcreekart.com www.facebook.com/wildcreekart/ Photos courtesy Wild Creek Art Gallery "Duality" is a painting by artist Brianna Bynum, right. The piece is one of many currently on display and available for sale at the newly opened Wild Creek Art Gallery in Russellville. OZarK LIVInG • January 2023 • 27

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