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Blanden Arts Festival is Saturday

Art, music to be highlighted

-Messenger file photo
Artist Nathan Moore, of Ames, shows Evelynn Hamilton, then 8, of Fort Dodge, how to work on a potter’s wheel during the 2024 Blanden Arts Festival.

The annual Blanden Arts Festival is a free event open to the community that is a day to celebrate the Blanden Memorial Art Museum and Iowa art culture while also highlighting artistic talent, creativity and imagination.

The festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the museum, 920 Third Ave. S.

During the event, guests will see a mixture of arts and crafts, paintings, pressed flowers, rag rugs, jewelry and more. Some of the artists include Lisa Glaser, Denny Dunbar and Mary Jo Hinds.

“We really hope the community comes out to the festival to support all the artists and purchase some of their art,” said Eric Anderson, the director of the museum. “This is also the perfect time to learn more about all that the Blanden has to offer by providing families with information in terms of art activities that we provide throughout the summer at our art education center.”

Anderson added that people are invited to not only enjoy themselves, but also see all the possibilities of art activities or classes the museum provides throughout the summer.

“It is a way to promote our art education program, but also a great way to showcase all the amazing talent that exists in the area,” he said.

Along with all the different visual art, there will also be live music throughout the day, beginning at 10 a.m. Musicians will include Grace Casciatio, Sawyer Springer and Brant Lawler and Stadium Drive.

The kids activities will include Toby Kid Clauenber, twister of balloons. He will be on the southeast corner of the museum grounds from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nathan and Clay will also be on the grounds. This is a way for kids to learn pottery through an all-inclusive experience. Nathan More brings portable pottery wheels, stools, clay, tools, buckets, glazes and unique clay experience.

Starting at $2.99/week.

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