By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The 55th-annual Smoky Hill Art Exhibition at the Hays Arts Center, 112 E. 11th St., will anchor the Hays Arts Council Spring Art Walk again.
The Smoky Hill Art Exhibition is the state's oldest juried art exhibition. This year, 298 pieces were submitted by artists from across Kansas.
Sixty-two art pieces were selected for the exhibition. The gamut of the fine art world is represented — ceramics, paintings, glass and assemblages, said Brenda Meder, Hays Arts Council executive director.
That show will run through early June.
"People can come and celebrate, chill and engage with our downtown in ways maybe they don't have other opportunities to do," Meder said.
"We are loaded with art, but of course, we have other great things going on in our downtown as well—great businesses and places to eat and drink."
Prior to Saturday's main event, the Fort Hays State University Jazz Bands will perform a free concert at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Downtown Pavillion.
On Saturday, the Hays Public Library will host a watercolor demonstration by Margie Hammerschmidt of the Western Plains Painters at 1 p.m. in the Schmidt Gallery. At noon, the library will also host a community acoustic jam session in the first-floor commons.
The Hays Community Theatre will host free performances of Everett Robert's 10-minute play "Sputnik: The True Story of How Professional Wrestling Integrated Memphis, Tennesee" at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. at 121 E. Eighth St.
Good Hope 4-H will host a project showcase, face painting and a fundraiser in the Downtown Pavilion at 10th and Main.
"Some of these 4-H students do amazing things," Meder said.
Jeanne Riedel will be in the pavilion singing her mystery book "Soon You Will Be Mine."
Randy Mader will provide live music all day at the pavilion.
Local crafters also have been invited to display and sell their goods in the pavilion during the art walk. See a list in the schedule below.
The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau will have its Chalk Art Station in Union Pacific Park next to the pavilion.
Fort Hays State University will host two exhibitions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on campus.
The Hornak Estate FHSU Art Collection will be exhibited at the Moss Thorns Gallery. "BWCAW Puga," sculpture by Wayne Potratz, will be on display in the Taylor Gallery in the Center for Applied Technology and Sculpture.
The arts council has two youth events coming up in the next week.
The arts council will honor its youth Creative Writing Award winners at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Memorial Union.
The annual Famous Figures finals competition for Ellis County fifth-graders will be on May 3.
You can find more information on the Hays Arts Council webpage or follow them on Facebook.