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
