Farmers Market to host art event this summer

Nevada Daily Mail

As the Nevada Farmers Market continues through the summer months, a new aspect will be added to the event as the Vernon County Arts Council partners with the market and Healthy Nevada to provide their first ever open air event.

"We're trying to keep the arts up and lively," Andrew McNair of the local Art Shop said.

The event provides an opportunity from 9 a.m. to noon on the final Saturdays in June, July and August for members of the community to participate in an outside art competition or just paint for their own enjoyment.

"Anybody can come and paint," McNair said, saying he encourages artists to bring their own work to show or sell as well as come for the opportunity to paint with others.

The second portion of the event is a 180-minute quick draw competition which will allow participants to work on a painting for three hours, with no opportunity for outside work done in advance or afterwards, and then the artwork will be judged. The first place artist will be awarded at least $50, with a minimum of $30 and $20 prizes granted to the second and third place winners, respectively.

The competition is confined only to views as seen from the market's location at Earp Park, including the fountain, caboose, courthouse, skyline and the market itself such as the Amish farmers and other vendors and musicians.

McNair said he has already been reaching out to artists from surrounding cities and even states concerning the event, saying he hopes people from Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas might participate as well as local artists.

"It would be good to have people come from other communities," McNair said, saying he has contacted art communities in Lamar and Fort Scott and hopes to reach Butler as well.

Although the competition does not require an entry fee, McNair does require preregistration for the competition, and asks that all participants, whether in the competition or the general opportunity to paint, to bring their own supplies.