Visual artists, musicians and poets from across Iowa will add a bit of extra flare to several historic buildings when the annual Art on the Prairie festival returns Saturday and Sunday in Perry.
This year’s festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
“One thing that I’m looking forward to that’s changed this year is we’re strategically adding artists in Common Wealth and Studio on Second, which is further down Second Street,” said Bethany Wicks, Art on the Prairie Festival Board Member. “That will hopefully increase the foot traffic beyond the intersection that it’s normally been in and will take some people’s interests to the local businesses and restaurants and get them in their doors as well.”
The festival features 56 visual artists, 32 musicians and 23 poets in 10 historic buildings:
- Perry Public Library, 1101 Willis Ave.
- Security Bank Building, 1102 Willis Ave.
- Hotel Pattee, 1112 Willis Ave.
- Town/Craft Building, 1122 Willis Ave.
- Carnegie Library Museum, 1123 Willis Ave.
- Betsy Peterson Designs, 1121 Second St.
- Mary Rose Collective, 1215 Warford St.
- La Poste, 1219 Warford St.
- Common Wealth Provisions, 1215 Second St.
- Studio on Second, 1218 Second St.
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New venues added to 2023 festival
Lynsi Pasutti, AOP Board Member, said Common Wealth Provisions and Studio on Second are new venues this year. Studio on Second housed Poetry on the Prairie last year while the building will be used for visual artists during this year’s festival.
Security Bank Building, which has typically featured visual artists, will instead be the location for Poetry on the Prairie. The Iowa Poetry Association, Poetry & and Beaverdale Books will host a variety of events, including a poetry slam, readings, workshops and open mic opportunities.
“It’s a festival within the festival,” Pasutti said of Poetry on the Prairie.
The Perry Public Library will host local artists and a student art exhibit, along with storytimes, author presentations and a musical performance.
Visual artists will be set up in the remaining buildings and musicians will perform both days. The juried festival will include returning favorites along with 10 new artists from ceramics to glass, jewelry, fiber, printmaking, photography, woodworking, mixed media and more.
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ISU professor is featured artist
This year’s featured artist is Anna Segner, who is currently an instructor at Iowa State University. Segner will have her painting and mixed media work on display in the cellar of La Poste.
Another festival feature will be the mural commissioned by Art on the Prairie. The mural, created by artists Jimmy Navarro and Katie Jensen, depicts a prairie landscape, rolling hills and the Raccoon River Valley. Community members and high school students helped paint a few of the 17 panels.
The 75-foot mural will be installed before the festival weekend above Raccoon Valley Bank. A mural celebration will be held from 3-4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 at Perry Perk. Community members are invited to meet the artists and enjoy refreshments to help kick off the Art on the Prairie festival.
Festival board members encourage local and area residents to view the artwork throughout the historic buildings on Saturday and Sunday.
“I would encourage people to just shop local. It’s nice to be able to meet the artist and buy something special and support local artists,” Teena Case said.
Various artforms on display in Perry
Festival-goers can also check out the Poetry on the Prairie activities or listen to music as they browse the artist booths.
“It’s definitely something to celebrate, this is a really big event for Perry,” Pasutti said. “It’s fun to be a part of it and see all of the different people who come from across the state and even out of state to visit this festival because this is a unique event. It’s not just an art show with 10×10 tents lining the street. It’s a really different festival being that it’s in historic venues within the downtown.”
Festival board members also encourage residents to indulge in many of the different activities throughout the weekend.
“I just think it’s a great opportunity for the citizens of Perry to come out and see downtown be alive and bustling,” Wicks said. “There’s just a lot of life that happens this weekend and it’s refreshing and joyful to see.”
“The fact that we include the visual artists and the musicians and the poetry, so all of these different layers come together,” Mary Rose Nichols added. “And just the color, the sounds, the visuals, it’s just pretty special.”
Find more information, including a full schedule of events, visit the Art on the Prairie website, artontheprairie.org, and Facebook page. Programs will also be located inside each venue.
Allison Ullmann is the editor and reporter for the Perry Chief and Dallas County News. Reach her at [email protected].