The fourth annual Fountain Fest descends on the Arkansas Arts Center on Thursday, Oct. 13, put on by the AAC’s young professionals group the Contemporaries. Now a favorite event among locals, the fest celebrates the local food and arts community, including the unveiling of the winning installation in the Carrie Remmel Dickinson Fountain. (Yes, it’s actually in the fountain.)
With the event just around the corner, we caught up with event chair Jessie Walker McLarty to learn more about the Contemporaries and what to look forward to at Fountain Fest 2016.
Tell us more about the Contemporaries. What’s it like to be a member?
JWM: Being a member of the Arkansas Arts Center Contemporaries is a great way to meet fellow young art enthusiasts and become more familiar with the local art community. We host about six events a year that are after work, casual and fun. We’ve done everything from touring an art studio to visiting an art collector’s home to getting a behind-the-scenes tours of the latest Arkansas Arts Center exhibition. The Contemporaries gives young professionals an opportunity to see all that the Arkansas Arts Center has to offer and an avenue to experience local art in so many forms.
Why are events like this one important for the arts community?
JWM: Over the past four years, Fountain Fest has grown immensely — from attendance to attractions to impact. It allows us to highlight local artists, to partner with great restaurants and breweries and to share our love of art with the community in an original and fun way. Last year we launched an art installation competition. The winner receives $1,500 and his or her art is featured in the Carrie Remmel Dickinson fountain in front of the Arts Center, making it the centerpiece of Fountain Fest.
Additionally, Fountain Fest is the Contemporaries’ only fundraiser. We use the money to purchase art from the Collectors Show & Sale in November and donate it to the Arts Center’s permanent collection. So we’re helping expand a world-class art collection that’s accessible to all Arkansans.
What can guests expect at Fountain Fest?
JWM: Whatever your interest, we have something for you. We’ll have live music by Luke Johnson and Brian Nahlen. We’ll have hands-on art demonstrations with instructors from the Museum School, and you can even make your own keychains for a Fountain Fest souvenir. Stone’s Throw and Lost 40 are providing the beer, and we’ll have great food from local restaurants. You can even win a $1,500 Louis Vuitton purse or a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle (valued at $2,000) as part of our raffle. Even if you’re not into art, it’s a great night of food, drinks and entertainment for only $25 — and you can’t beat that!
What are you most excited about at the event?
JWM: I can’t wait to see what the sculpture looks like! Last year’s winner, Tod “Switch” Swiecichowski, created a beautiful, giant glowing diamond that continued to draw visitors long after Fountain Fest had ended. The winner isn’t revealed until that night, so it’s exciting for all of us.
If you want to learn more about the Contemporaries, visit the AAC website. And make sure you get your tickets to Fountain Fest by clicking here.