By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
The Hays Arts Council's Spring Art Walk is set to return this weekend, but with a few changes.
The most notable will be a shift from a Friday night event to all day on Saturday.
“As everyone knows, we haven’t had an art walk for quite some time, and out of respect for the circumstances and the acknowledgment that one of the most important things is the best interest of our community, that’s actually what prompted it to get moved from the traditional Friday night,” HAC Executive Director Brenda Meder said.
Typical art walks will bring large crowds into downtown businesses along with the Arts Center.
“It can be shoulder to shoulder in here,” Meder said. “We knew it wasn’t quite the right time for the frenetic energy and congested traffic.”
So the event was shifted a six-hour event that will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
“You can treat it just like any other art walk,” Meder said.
But for those looking for something Friday, the Fort Hays State University Jazz Band, under the direction of Brad Dawson, will kick off the Art Walk in the Downtown Hays Pavilion from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. — its first performance since before the pandemic began.
“Those incredibly talented individuals have not gotten to perform publicly since November of 2019,” Meder said. “We invite everyone ... Bring your lawn chair, sit back and enjoy some music by some really talented performing artists.”
During Saturday's art walk, she said, two dozen locations will be included, featuring almost three dozen installations.
“So there is a lot to see and do,” she said. "It’s going to be a great opportunity for our community to get back out, to enjoy each other’s company and yet to be doing so in a way that addresses we are coming out the other side of the pandemic."
While the change was made out of necessity, she views the shift as a positive one.
“I think there are some things about this switched-up format that are actually so positive,” Meder said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t the future of the Spring Art Walk.”
She said some patrons have already indicated the all-day format makes a drive to Hays more worthwhile — benefiting Hays businesses, noting the many restaurants and shops downtown available for breakfast and lunch.
“We have so many amazing places in our downtown and really we are so thrilled with the timing of that,” Meder said.
Flags will mark participating locations.
“One of those will be posted in front of every storefront that has something art walk-related in there,” Meder said.
Interactive exhibits will also be a feature of this art walk.
“I think it is going to be very connected and very interactive and special,” Brenda said.
The interactivity will include a drum circle three times during the day, a feature of a previous Summer Art Walk.
“People loved it, and children loved it,” Meder said. “It was just a great way to be engaged in this rhythmic wonderful experience.”
Other performing artists will include a children’s theatre group presenting a short play, twice during the day.
This art walk will also feature work from every level of art development from elementary school students, to art students and professionals.
Some of the most notable artist will be featured in the Smoky Hill exhibition, the regular anchor of the Spring Art Walk.
For the most part, the event will be familiar to patrons of previous events, but out of an abundance of caution, she said no food or drinks will be offered at the exhibitions.
“It will make the flow a lot better, it will keep people from congregating in ways that maybe are not the best and with all these great places downtown that is OK,” Meder said.
