Record-breaking crowds attend Pittsburg Spring ArtWalk

Hundreds turn out to see arts and crafts from local talent.

Key Takeaways

• Hundreds attended the annual Pittsburg Spring ArtWalk
• The ArtWalk showcased art, handcrafts and performances by local talent, and offered food, drink and activities
• The Pittsburg Arts District was created by the city last October

A record number of people visited the 17th annual Pittsburg Spring ArtWalk to see a diverse array of visual arts, crafts, music and other activities displayed on the streets and sidewalks of Pittsburg’s downtown area.

“This is the largest attendance we’ve ever seen,” said Pittsburg ArtWalk President Christa Cunningham. “We had over a hundred people in the first half-hour.”

Cunningham also applauded the city’s creation of the Pittsburg Arts District last October. The new district spans north to Trailhead Park (11th and North Broadway) south to Jolly Fox Brewery (Third & South Broadway), east to Frisco Event Center (Second & East Fourth), and west to the city’s public library (Third & North Walnut).

“The establishment of an arts district will enhance the city,” Cunningham said. “It’s an idea we’d been pursuing for over a year.” 

Public art was the underlying theme of the ArtWalk, held April 21 in the area between Fourth and Seventh Streets on West Broadway. The event featured displays by visual artists using a wide variety of media, handcrafts from local artisans and performance art by local musicians and dancers.

According to the ArtWalk website, there were over 100 participants this year, including 50 artists and 17 local civic organizations such as the Southeast Kansas Humane Society, Friends of the Pittsburg Public Library, Live Well Crawford County and Guardians of the Children.

There were also 22 food vendors, whose offerings ranged from tacos and chili dogs to funnel cakes and shaved ice. Patrons who wanted to enjoy alcoholic beverages were permitted to do so within the bounds of common consumption rules, which specified that the drinks must be purchased from participating establishments and consumed only in the areas designated by the ArtWalk.

In addition to visual arts and crafts, there were numerous musical acts that included four area bands that performed on the main stage in Europe Park, next to West Broadway near Fifth Street, and individual musicians who performed throughout the area.

Dancers from the Eclectic Soul Studio, a place for dance, yoga and energy healing located in downtown Broadway, performed routines in the styles of Afro-Latin and belly dance fusion. The performances culminated at dusk with a fire dance by studio co-owner LaStacia Ross.

This year saw the addition of the Writer’s Block, a section for writers and authors to showcase their work. Attendees were able to enjoy poetry and fiction readings at TJ Lelands pub, located on Sixth Street near West Broadway.

The visual artists that were featured included intuitive artist Neva Rowland, who said her work is guided by focusing on the creative experience that comes from connecting to her feelings and emotions. Rowland specializes in fluid art, a painting technique that allows the artist to create visually organic designs.

“I use acrylic paint mixed with water to create a free-flowing medium,” Rowland said.

Handcrafters like Laura Tierney see venues like the ArtWalk as a great way to display their wares. Tierney, who runs L & M Gardens in Frontenac, said that this was her third appearance at the Pittsburg ArtWalk.

“We provide different plants and planters, customers choose the ones they want and put them together or, if they prefer, we can do it for them,” Tierney said.  “The ArtWalk has really helped to raise awareness of our business.”

Laura Medina of Lua’s Stylish Bags said that she enjoys participating in the ArtWalk.

“It gives me a chance to meet a lot of interesting people,” Medina said, “and it’s been great for my little business.”

There were multiple activities for children and kid-friendly offerings from different organizations, such as face painting from Kaleidoscope Eyes and water-based tattoos from Guardians of the Children. Street art areas, where children could decorate the streets with paint and colored chalk, proved to be especially popular.

Cunningham said that this year’s ArtWalk was shaping up to be the most successful one they have had.

“We think that the success of the ArtWalk will inspire more business owners to enhance their businesses with artwork, and encourage them to support public art,” Cunningham said.