As you may know, the City of Prescott was founded by a delegation of Eastern politicians selected by President Abraham Lincoln to establish the first capital of the newly-established Arizona Territory.

This weekend, like so many others, our founders would be proud of the art and culture that is modern Prescott. We've got a weekend no one should miss--especially you!

Though the name is new this year, the Thumb Butte Festival is in its fifth season. Sponsored by the Prescott Area Arts & Humanities Council, this is a two-day celebration of all arts.

Not by coincidence, the event, billed as "Prescott's Premier Art & Heritage Celebration" starts Friday night at 6:00 pm during the 4th Friday Art Walk (more about this below,) with the period-dressed Elks Opera House Guild members and Rio Flamenco performing on the Courthouse Plaza.

Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm is a salute to all arts--dance, crafts, culinary, written word, heritage and other art forms like painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, etc. with galleries, museums and artist studios open to visitors. A map and complete list of venues is available online at www.prescottarts.org.

This newly-named collaboration of all things artistic was the result of brainstorming following last year's successful artist studio tour.

"We decided to open it up to all forms of art and to our surprise, by bringing all types of groups together, we've enjoyed a successful cross-promotion that makes the event even more interesting," said Deborah Thurston, the event's planner/organizer.

Prescott's newest art gallery, ‘Tis, offers an example of the varied arts available this weekend. In addition to five artists demonstrating in the gorgeous third floor banquet/ballroom with its floor-to-ceiling windows, pictured here during a class with artist Jorge Moreno, the Prescott Premier Catering culinary artists will offer for purchase petite appetizer plates of hors d'oeuvres and desserts. Photographer Chris Marchetti will shoot candid and portrait shots Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and the well-dressed Buscadaros and Elks Opera House Guild will also be on hand, with the Guild returning from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday.

This variety is repeated throughout town at artist studios like the Fiddling Potter Studio (206 S. Arizona), where live Celtic and folk music jams will meld with the art of local art teachers Yvonne Holland and Lisa Kaiser, joined by wood sculptor Will Van der Hayden.

Marking Thumb Butte Festival, Sharlot Hall Museum is featuring Navajo flutist and flute-maker Michael Goodluck, and two fine-art exhibits including "The Baskets Keep Talking" (pictured). Saturday, they're also participating in the fifth annual Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day, offering free admission to visitors presenting a Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Admission Card. The card, available in the September issue of Smithsonian Magazine, is available for download free on their website.

As mentioned, this weekend steps off on Friday, which is also the 4th Friday Art Walk in historic downtown Prescott. This is a local's favorite festive event with numerous art galleries open later hours and offering refreshments and music. At Huckeba Art Gallery (227 W. Gurley), Jill and Charles Huckeba, (pictured here), are kicking the weekend up a notch with a highly unusual sale--their first in five years--that has some art discounted 30 to 80%. Friday night, count on being serenaded by Charles, a painter of contemporary rock art who additionally rocks his guitar.

Also Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at The Art Store (109 S. Granite Street), multiple Emmy-winning artist Bret Blevins, a former Marvel and DC Comics artist now an animated film freelance storyboard artist and painter, will conduct free demonstrations.

There are just so many exceptional activities during our Thumb Butte Festival to list, so please see the website www.prescottarts.org for additional details.

The Prescott Public Library might not be what you'd think of as a destination for visitors, but you'd be surprised! Besides its wonderful Friends of the Library book sale area and growing number of art works inside and out, there's now the mural "Beyond Words." Under the direction of artists/creators and Prescott Downtown Mural Project co-founders R.E. Wall and Maggie Dewar (pictured here), the mural project has involved more than 800 residents (aka Mural Mice). This Saturday at 7:30 pm is the mural dedication, preceded at 6:00 pm by the Mural Mice Play. Under Dewar direction, a large cast of local adults and children in elaborate costumes will depict some of the historic moments painted on the mural. The performance is free.

This weekend is also the first time the Raw Spirit Festival, a Sedona staple, will be in Prescott. Known as "the world's leading raw vegan-eco-peace celebration," Raw Spirit Festival is Saturday and Sunday at Watson Lake Park. You may not know that the head office of Raw Spirit is here in Prescott. They've held two other successful festivals this year in Santa Barbara, California and Washington D.C. and have another upcoming in Maui. Festival founder and president Happy Oasis (pictured), production manager Nikk Stevers and marketing head Aryn LaBrake are all Prescott residents.

The Prescott Alternative Transportation presents their Pedals & Pumps Gala Saturday, a tribute to those who've supported a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly community. Dinner and live entertainment are included and all proceeds support their ecologically-sound goals. For more information see www.PrescottBikePed.org.

Looking forward to seeing you in Prescott and the surrounding area this weekend!

 

 

 

Until then, Happy Trails!
The Prescott Cowgirl

Comment (1)

Howdy Partners, and welcome to a week of varied activities ranging from Corvette shows, Prescott Valley's Biggest Yard Sale in Town, fantastic art at Yavapai Community College, and a Christmas in September fundraiser!

As you probably know, Prescott is known as "Arizona's Christmas City," and our 55th annual Courthouse Plaza Lighting--ablaze with a million lights strung up and around trees, the imposing courthouse columns and twinkling from windows of businesses and stores ringing the plaza--is an outward sign of the spirit of the season.

This Saturday, Sep. 19 is your opportunity to help continue this holiday tradition by attending the inaugural Christmas in September Gala at the historic Hassayampa Inn. Your $100 ticket not only gives you a "Tour of America" gourmet food tasting, but the opportunity to win the grand prize of $5,000, and up to 50 other prizes, among them vacation getaways and a year's membership to the Downtown Athletic Club.

Entertainment includes the Arizona Revue and rooftop dancing.

Car enthusiasts and lovers of fine lines will appreciate this Saturday's Historic Prescott All-Corvette Car Show from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Sponsored by the Prescott Vette Set, up to 200 Corvettes will be parked along Cortez and Goodwin Streets. This is the third year for this show, and be sure to enter to win lunch at one of the surrounding Prescott restaurants and other prizes! Proceeds are earmarked for the Stepping Stones Agencies of Prescott Valley, now in their 29th year.

Speaking of Prescott Valley, if you're into bargains, you don't want to miss the Biggest Yard Sale in Town this Saturday at Tim's Toyota Center, (3201 Main St, Prescott Valley). This is the first year of this event, and booths are located inside and out. There are numerous nonprofits hoping to raise funds, including the Prescott Valley Charter School's Archery Club and Bradshaw Mountain High School freshman cheerleader Jaclyn Ogden (shown here) who was selected to march with other cheerleaders from throughout the U.S. in Houston's 60th Thanksgiving Day Parade. There's surely a "treasure" there with your name on it!

This Prescott Cowgirl likes to advise you about upcoming events, but I must thank you all for making last weekend's Annual Yard Sale at Sharlot Hall Museum a rip-roaring success! This decade-old event has proved to be so popular, this year it was extended to two days.

"Three years ago we netted $700, last year we did $3,700 and this year $6,000," said the museum's Karen Churchill, who lauded the 64 volunteers who helped set up and conduct the sale. Any items left over were donated to the Prescott Public Library and Habitat for Humanity. Funds raised go to help with educational opportunities and training of the always-knowledgeable volunteers who help in various capacities.

Looking to the stars is what the Prescott Astronomy Club's Lakeside Stargazing is all about. The new season begins Saturday Sep. 19 at Watson Lake Park, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. You needn't have your own telescope; the club's members are happy to share theirs, but if you have one, tune-ups start at 5:30. If clear skies prevail this Saturday, you'll see Galileo's Moons, Pegasus, globular star clusters, an active star-forming area known as an emission nebula and the GendlerM, shown here. You're encouraged to bring the kids! For more information on the Club and upcoming events including their Third Thursday Star Talks at Prescott Public Library, see www.prescottastronomyclub.org.

You have just a few days left to see a fabulous collection of art at the Yavapai Community College's Art Faculty Exhibition on display at the Yavapai College Art Gallery. More than 44 works from 16 Yavapai College professors and adjunct professors reveal further talent from this faculty. See exceptionally fine woodworking, ceramics, fiber, painting, photography and jewelry. The gallery is open Wednesdays until 7:00 pm and 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Thursday and Friday when the exhibition ends.

Learn a bit more about Prescott this Saturday with the Living History Presentations at the Fort Whipple Museum on the Veteran's Administration Hospital campus, building 11. Among the presenters sharing historical anecdotes from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm is Sharlot Hall's chief curator Mick Woodcock, an Arizona native who's been studying about life in the late 19th century Arizona Territory for more than 40 years.

Admission is by donation. Find out more at www.sharlot.org.

Looking ahead, you'll want to plan now to attend the 5th Annual Thumb Butte Festival--Prescott's premier art & heritage celebration--September 26th & 27th. The full weekend of events is hosted by the Prescott Area Arts & Humanities Council, and kicks off Friday at 6:00 pm on the Courthouse Plaza as part of the 4th Friday Art Walk. We'll tell you all about it next week, but in the meantime visit www.prescottarts.org. This is a very special weekend we hope you won't miss!

Also on the 26th, Sharlot Hall Museum is participating in the fifth annual Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day by offering free admission to anyone presenting a Museum Day Admission Card from their September issue, or presenting a downloadable version, available to the general public.

Until I see you ‘round the Plaza or at one of these events, happy trails to you!

 

 

 

 

The Prescott Cowgirl

 

Comment (0)