The Battle Ground Art Alliance will host the annual Art in the Park event at Kiwanis Park on Aug. 20, providing local artists and artisans an opportunity to show off their craft to the public.
Battle Ground Art Alliance President Linda Kliewer is excited to see what the artists have to offer this year.
“(People can expect) lots of handmade art by local artists, music in the afternoon, a food truck will come by, and just a general wonderful experience immersed in the arts for an afternoon,” Kliewer said.
In addition, Kliewer said there will be art inside the Kiwanis building as well as outside at the park. She said that will be the main difference that sets the event apart from previous iterations.
The artists featured are both members and non-members of the BGAA, Kliewer said.
“There will be basketry and pottery, and lots of fine art paintings and photography,” she said.
Connie Ford will weave baskets, while Richard Britschgi will make rock art. Kliewer said Britschgi is “relatively new this year” and “does all kinds of interesting animals and so forth” through rock cutting and grinding.
As for Cyndee Starr, she is also new and will make art through painting and doodling. Then there’s Valley Reseigne, who Kliewer said will make “amazing weavings out of yarn” inside the building.
Reseigne also uses her own loom at home, which Kliewer said is unusual because not many people do it. For Kliewer herself, she said she is a ceramic artist who specializes in clay, and will display her work inside the Kiwanis building during the event. She said she does more “decorative” ceramic art, which consists of things like lanterns and orchid pots.
There will be another ceramic artist named Lesley Anne Ezelle, who works more closely with functional pottery. Kliewer said functional pottery is for more everyday items such as mugs or bowls.
Besides all the art, singer and guitarist Dan Dingman will appear from 1 to 3 p.m. to play music for the artists and spectators. Kliewer said he will play 60s and 70s-style soft rock. For the kids, there will be face painting and button making with local artists as well.
A food truck selling cheesesteaks will be present, as well as the Battle Ground ice cream truck, she said.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic is not as dire, Kliewer hopes to see more people this year.
“I hope people will join us. It’ll be a very pleasant day,” she said.
Kliewer wants to do what she can to accommodate the artists, even if they don’t have a tent of their own.
“We’re a nonprofit, and we support the artists in our community, and one of the ways we do that is allowing them access in all fashion to our events,” she said. “And so if they did not have a tent, we offered indoor panels so that they could participate.”
Kliewer said all the fees for the artist booths will go back to the community, including a scholarship for Clark College for $500 to “further their education in the arts.”
The event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kiwanis Park is located at 422 SW Second Ave. For more information, go to bgartalli
ance.org
