By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
The Hays Arts Council’s Summer Art Walk will return this month, bringing various art and music to locations throughout downtown Hays.
The event is scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 17.
“It’s going to be a really lovely event,” said Hays Arts Council Executive Director Brenda Meder. “I’ve got two great exhibits planned for our main gallery space.”
One of those exhibits will be artist Wendy Tan.
“Her ceramic work is brilliant,” Meder said. “But she’s been focusing more on the sculpture.”
Her ceramic work was in the Smokey Hill Art Exhibition, but her paintings will be in the gallery for this event.
The gallery will feature work from Fort Hays State University graduate student Bethany Panhorst.
“It’s going to be a really cool exhibition,” Meder said. “I love what Bethany does.”
The gallery will also feature illustrations from Kathleen Kuchar on display and work from the center’s summer youth art classes.
Along with the art displays, the evening will also bring music to downtown as the Hays Chamber’s Young Professionals organization will host a free public concert at 7:30 p.m. featuring Anthony and the Animals in the Downtown Hays Pavilion in Union Pacific Park, 10th and Main.
“I’m thrilled to have it,” Meder said. “There’s nothing more ‘arts’ than music and dance.”
“This is kind of our big shebang for the year," said Thomas Graham, Hays Chamber’s Young Professionals committee chair. “We want to put something on for the community everybody can come out and enjoy.
“We’re really excited,” he continued. “It’s really organized just to be, for the family and for the community.”
Food trucks and snow cones will also be available, he said.
While activities are coming together for the Summer Art Walk, Meder said all artists are welcome to participate.
“We don’t care what your art form is, if it’s original work that you create, even if it’s more like in the fine craft area or something, that’s OK,” Meder said. “People love seeing a variety. If you want to come out and just perform on the streets that night, great. But if you line something up and are a musician performing someplace, let me know in advance, and we will get that on the list.”
To be listed on the print program, she said artists or businesses must get the information to the council before June 7, but it is not required.
That schedule will be available on the Hays Arts Council’s website the week of the event.
“We want to amass an assortment of artists because it’s really a special evening and who doesn’t love a good summer night in downtown Hays,” Meder said.
