Summer means Sunflower Festival in Mountainair
<center><table border=0 align=center><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Mountainair will be celebrating the annual Sunflower Festival sponsored by the Manzano Mountain Art Council</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/sunflower_0709.jpg border=1 align=center vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Mountainair will be celebrating the annual Sunflower Festival"></td></tr></table></center>
Mountainair, NM – On Saturday Aug. 22 from 10 am to 4 pm, the village will be celebrating the annual Sunflower Festival sponsored by the Manzano Mountain Art Council. The Festival is housed at the Dr. Saul Community Center, but spills out into the streets of the town, including the cooperative Cibola Arts Gallery. In past years, over a thousand visitors have attended the one-day event.
<table border=0 align=right><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>This stunning mosaic was featured art at a past Sunflower Festival</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/sunflowerfest.jpg border=1 align=right vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="This stunning mosaic was featured art at a past Sunflower Festival"></td></tr></table>This year’s event will showcase fine arts and crafts screened from statewide and regional applications as well as additional Market Place exhibitors. Best in Show and two Awards of Merit will be selected from fine arts and crafts participants with cash prizes.
In an effort to bring the highest quality work, festival organizers are asking artists and craftsmen to submit 3 to 6 visuals of their work with their application. Deadline for application submissions is July 1, 2009.
Other events include a popular sunflower hat contest with four categories, a silent auction and a raffle. The raffle this year is the festival logo, a sunflower mosaic created by Manzano Mountain Art Council members Tomas Wolff, Celeste Simon, Judy Benton, Deb Jones and Kay Stillion.
Each year, hundreds gather for the annual Poets and Writers Picnic, held in conjunction with the festival at the gazebo garden of the historic Shaffer Hotel, a few blocks away. This is one of the premier poetry events in New Mexico, featuring top poets from around the state. It is also the culmination of an annual Sunflower Writing Workshop.
Mountainair is also alive with live music on the festival day and young artists' creations will be displayed around town.
Local stores and restaurants feature sunflower specials including Meds & More which will offer "Special Sunflower Festival Fountain Creations". Ancient Cities will also have a beverage special that day. Special tours of the area also are being planned in conjunction with the day.
According the Art Council president Ray Terhorst, “We are convinced that this year’s festival will be the most exciting ever.”
For more information call (505) 847- 2205 or check the Art Council website at http://mountainairarts.org/ (http://mountainairarts.org/)
<center><table border=0 align=center><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Mountainair will be celebrating the annual Sunflower Festival sponsored by the Manzano Mountain Art Council</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/sunflower_0709.jpg border=1 align=center vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Mountainair will be celebrating the annual Sunflower Festival"></td></tr></table></center>
Mountainair, NM – On Saturday Aug. 22 from 10 am to 4 pm, the village will be celebrating the annual Sunflower Festival sponsored by the Manzano Mountain Art Council. The Festival is housed at the Dr. Saul Community Center, but spills out into the streets of the town, including the cooperative Cibola Arts Gallery. In past years, over a thousand visitors have attended the one-day event.
<table border=0 align=right><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>This stunning mosaic was featured art at a past Sunflower Festival</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/sunflowerfest.jpg border=1 align=right vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="This stunning mosaic was featured art at a past Sunflower Festival"></td></tr></table>This year’s event will showcase fine arts and crafts screened from statewide and regional applications as well as additional Market Place exhibitors. Best in Show and two Awards of Merit will be selected from fine arts and crafts participants with cash prizes.
In an effort to bring the highest quality work, festival organizers are asking artists and craftsmen to submit 3 to 6 visuals of their work with their application. Deadline for application submissions is July 1, 2009.
Other events include a popular sunflower hat contest with four categories, a silent auction and a raffle. The raffle this year is the festival logo, a sunflower mosaic created by Manzano Mountain Art Council members Tomas Wolff, Celeste Simon, Judy Benton, Deb Jones and Kay Stillion.
Each year, hundreds gather for the annual Poets and Writers Picnic, held in conjunction with the festival at the gazebo garden of the historic Shaffer Hotel, a few blocks away. This is one of the premier poetry events in New Mexico, featuring top poets from around the state. It is also the culmination of an annual Sunflower Writing Workshop.
Mountainair is also alive with live music on the festival day and young artists' creations will be displayed around town.
Local stores and restaurants feature sunflower specials including Meds & More which will offer "Special Sunflower Festival Fountain Creations". Ancient Cities will also have a beverage special that day. Special tours of the area also are being planned in conjunction with the day.
According the Art Council president Ray Terhorst, “We are convinced that this year’s festival will be the most exciting ever.”
For more information call (505) 847- 2205 or check the Art Council website at http://mountainairarts.org/ (http://mountainairarts.org/)