“With the pandemic where it is at, the staff and board of the Blanden have decided to not move forward with an in person festival this year,” said Eric Anderson, director of the Blanden Art Museum. “Instead, this year, we will be doing a virtual festival.”

Due to the fact the festival tends to bring a lot of people — up to 3,000 attendees throughout the day in close proximity — hosting it virtually for at least 2021, Anderson said just makes sense.

The Blanden Virtual Art Festival will be highlighting videos of various area artists — showing them in their studios and workshops in addition to a collection of other in-house produced videos made throughout this past year at the Blanden Art Museum.

The highlight of the day, which can be viewed either in person or virtually will be sidewalk chalk artist, Kathleen Roling. Anderson said her drawing will be a rendition of the museum’s columns located at the front entrance and will be a photo opportunity when she is finished that will make it appear people are standing on top of the columns.

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Youths are invited to sign up to receive a free art kits that are available as part of the Blanden Virtual Art Festival. The kits contain art supplies that will be useful throughout the summer months and beyond.

The museum will be opened that day as well.

In the past, a large part of the museums annual festival has been geared towards activities for youth.

And this year is no exception.

In addition to some kid friendly videos that will showcase different projects and materials a free art kit is also available.

“The videos will show some materials and process the understanding in being creative and making art which is one of our goals here at the museum,” said Anderson.

The free art kit is available by logging on to the museum’s website at blanden.org; go to “classes and events” at the top of the page and then click on the Virtual Blanden Art Festival Kit and register.

Anderson said this can be done anytime from now and June 12 or until they run out.

“It should be fun,” Anderson said. “The festival is geared toward engaging with the community — making connections with the community and area artists, getting kids engaged with creative activities and also to promote our classes and art camps we have during the summer.”

Looking ahead

Anderson said they have decided to go ahead and hold some in person classes this summer, which will take place outdoors.

Classes geared toward adult and youth are planned and Anderson said people can register for those online.

Beginning June 15, adults can participate in a three-session ceramic container class. During this class, students will work with wet clay and create unique ceramic containers inspired by Betty Woodman.

On June 16, it’s the kids’ turn. Children can attend their own three-session ceramic class making “garden watchers.” Here, they can explore creating leaf ceramic sculptures and learn about the ceramic arts.

June 19, a virtual class on box assemblage will be held. During this class, students will explore the art of assemblage as they create a unique box of expression using materials provided and found at home. Joyce Blunk’s, “A Bone to Pick” on display in the West Gallery, inspires this project.

June 19 is also an opportunity for an in person class for adults, high school aged and older. This class, which is inspired by the work by Dawn Mak (McManus), will have students creating charcoal drawings. They will learn about the media, unique tools for blending, details and the process of drawing nature.

June 26, children will spend a day at the Blanden outside using oil pastels to create unique works of art using elements from nature combined with your imagination.

“One of our roles is to get people engaged with the process of making art and making it feel very comfortable and making it something that is highly accessible by anybody and it is about building that understanding. You come in not knowing much and overtime, our goal is to get you more comfortable with your own skills to get you to the next level to keep you going on and on,” said Anderson.

Anderson said there are two new exhibits on display at the Blanden Art Museum, “War in Ukraine,” a photography exhibit by Brendan Hoffman, which will be located in the East Gallery, May 22 to August 7, 2021 and “It’s Not About Me” located in the Second Floor Gallery from May 29 to July 24, 2021 by Jamie Burmeister.

Visiting the museum

Anderson has seen more visitors coming back to the museum the past few months, and is encouraged for that to continue.

“We hope to have people come back and visit us at the museum,” he said. “We have amazing work on display and pieces from our permanent collection. We really enjoy talking with people and visiting with them and we just look forward to having more and more people back.”