Spring art show set to bloom in Redmond

Published 2:15 am Thursday, May 2, 2024

The Dry Canyon Arts Association experimented by moving its fall art show and sale to Redmond High School in November. Judging from the feedback, Redmond High might be art central for awhile.

The DCAA is hoping to repeat that autumnal success in the spring, with the Spring Art Show and Sale set for this weekend, May 4-5. The fall’s show attracted more than 1,500 customers who strolled and shopped among vendors showing oil, acrylic and watercolor fine art, wood shaping, glass art, photography, jewelry making, textile art, pottery, and student art from Redmond schools.

The Dry Canyon Arts Association Spring Art Show and Sale will run from Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking is free. The show will be at Redmond High, 675 Rimrock Way.

Jay Lowndes, newly appointed events director for Dry Canyon Arts Association, likes the synergy of the organization partnering with Redmond High School for future art shows.

Art education is one of the objectives of Dry Canyon, so Lowndes said that it seems natural for DCAA to find space at Redmond High. It also doesn’t hurt that Lowndes is a newly-retired high school teacher, which means he knows his way around high school policies and cultures.

“Having organized a myriad of events throughout my teaching career has allowed me to slip seamlessly back into the role of events chair,” he said. “It has helped that I am familiar with the ins and outs of managing a multi-building district.”

Lowndes is hoping for an even larger turnout for the May 4-5 show, which happens to take place the same weekend as Star Wars Day, the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo — and is the weekend before Mother’s Day.

“As the Show is set on May the Fourth, wishful thinking leads me to believe that The Force will be with us over the course of the Show,” Lowndes said. “And we hope that the festive atmosphere will aptly reflect the 5th of May’s celebration.”

Dry Canyon is also repeating a raffle of art donated by participating artists.

Last fall’s raffle, combined with matching donations, made it possible for the organization to donate $3,000 to the arts program at Vern Patrick Elementary School.

The raffle’s organizers are hoping to outdo their accomplishments with more art for ticket buyers to choose from and more raffle tickets sold. As in the fall, all ticket sales fund art programs in Redmond schools.