By NICK BUDD
Hays Post
The downtown area in Hays will be bustling once again Friday night as the Hays Arts Council presents its annual Fall Art Walk. This year’s walk will feature more than 20 exhibitions throughout the downtown area. Most sites will be open from 6:30 to 9:30 but some have extended hours, either starting early on Friday or extending into Saturday.
“The Fall Art Walk is big or bigger than any of the other art walks,” said Hays Arts Council Director Brenda Meder. “This has really become an arts and cultural destination for a lot of people and the array of things that will be on display will be very exciting.”
According to Meder, one of the premier exhibitions at the art walk will be the opening exhibition for “There’s No Place Like Home,” the national conference exhibition of the Society of Layerists and Multimedia, which will be displayed at the Hays Arts Center on East 11th Street. The national exhibit will feature works from artists from around North America, Canada and in Hays who “express their work through a holistic approach.” Works that will be displayed will celebrate the features of “home, comfort and centerdness.”
“Some of the artistic works may be more fantasy and some may be more realistic. They may be images of earth and sky or home and studio,” Meder said. “So either real or fantasy, it features that theme of ‘There’s No Place Like Home.’ ”
Hays will host the National Conference for the Society of Layerists and Multimedia Oct. 1 to 5. Approximately 40 artists from around the country are expected to attend and also will be on hand for the opening exhibition Friday.
According to Meder, the artwork will also feature various local pieces from various members of the community. Other exhibits will feature city and pet photography, artwork created by the youth, stained glass art, musical performances and other exhibitions.
“For anybody that isn’t sure of what procedure to follow, I always just tell them to think of it as a giant art buffet,” Meder said. “You can take part in whatever place and order you want.”
A full schedule for this weekend’s art walk can be found HERE.