First Thursday Fayetteville returns to the square Sept. 3
Courtesy photo
First Thursday Fayetteville, the monthly celebration featuring live music, food trucks, local beer, and of course, an art walk featuring dozens of local artists and crafters selling their wares, returns this week.
The weather is looking perfect for tonight’s event (Thursday, Sept. 3), as well, and in addition to the regular festivities, the annual Fest Of All celebration also coincides with the festivities.
Here’s what we know about this month’s event.
On the square
Entertainment will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the main stage with Animal Tales, an interactive presentation featuring animals from the UA’s animal science program.
After that, longtime local party band Ultra Suede will take the stage from 7-9 p.m.
As always, many local artists will have booths set up around the square with paintings, woodwork, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and more.
Beer Garden
This month, the beer garden will be located at the patio of the Old Post Office in the middle of the downtown square.
The featured local brewery this month is Apple Blossom Brewing Co. Proceeds from the garden will benefit Ranger’s Pantry pet food bank.
Fayetteville Underground
Sculpture by artist Brenton Smith, one of three sculptors showing new work this month at Fayetteville Underground.
September marks the third anniversary of the Underground’s opening in their current location at 101 West Mountain, and they’ll celebrate the occasion during First Thursday.
Featured artists this month are regional sculptors Hank Kaminsky, Ed Pennebaker, and Brenton Smith. The Underground will also feature a guest appearance by North and Kai, stone balancers and members of Rockstars of Fayetteville.
Kaminsky’s newest work is an exploration into the possibilities of sand cast zinc, and evoke “astral or terrestrial, macrocosmic or microcosmic realms, the artist said. “These sculptures embody the meeting of flowing energy and invisible form.”
Glass artist Ed Pennebaker’s new work combines glass with metal, stone, wood, and found objects, and are inspired by things the artist observes in the hills surrounding his home/studio in rural Arkansas.
Sculptor Brenton Smith’s work elevates the dinosaur skeleton to a level of fine art. The artist hand-carves one-quarter scale Mahogany models of the prehistoric creatures, bone by bone, and assembles them seamlessly on a steel armature.
Musician Pat Ryan Key will perform at the opening as well.
sUgAR
The UA’s sUgAR gallery, located on the east side of the square, will debut a new show titled Welcoming the New; A Showcase of New Fine Art Faculty Work.
The show is a group exhibition made up of the works by new faulty members in the Fine Arts department for the 2015-16 school year. The gallery will be open from 6-8 p.m.
Artists include David Andree, Rebecca Drolen, Alex Hanson, Kasey Ramirez, and Lauren Scanlon.
Fest of All
The City of Fayetteville’s Community Resources Division is hosting the fifth annual Fest of All in conjunction with First Thursday this month.
The event, set for 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on the square, will feature performances of traditional dance and song from a variety of cultures.
International students from the University of Arkansas will set up various displays, and local area non-profits will have tables and information on-hand as well.
This event is free, and open to the public.
Parking
Free parking will be available in the Fayetteville Town Center parking deck beginning at noon.
