It’s that time of year again, and Art on the Green looms before me. What is it about Art on the Green that compels me to enter the competition year after year?
Painting non-stop for 24 hours ought to be enough of a deterrent, yet 38 of us are registered to compete once again. Art on the Green was initiated in 2005 as a 24-hour live sculpting competition for amateurs and professionals. In 2006, high school students were invited to sculpt and in 2007 the 2D (painting and drawing) component of the contest was instituted.
Over the years, Art on the Green has showcased local singing groups, actors, photographers, industrial artists, and new this year, the Green River Arts Council has voted to feature a live painting battle. Artists will be given a theme and have 45 minutes to complete a painting. Onlookers can purchase a token and vote for their favorite competitor, with the hope of moving that artist into the final battle round. Participants will compete for a cash prize and a chance to earn the Battle Champion title for the next year.
Battle art is a little too stressful a concept for me at this stage as I’m still struggling to figure out what size of canvas, what subject, and what style of watercolor I’ll use and still be able to create something meaningful within the 24 hours we’ve been given. I justify my willingness to lie awake and worry about this public contest so I can have the art experience, the practice (I need it!), and the camaraderie of fellow artists. But what attracts the hundreds of other people that visit this contest?
Perhaps they come for the same reason; the art experience. Maybe they really come for the events at the River Festival and just happen to wander in the Pavilion, or maybe are bringing their children who love doing art projects at Kids’ Art Corner. Thanks to public interest and involvement, the Adult Art Corner was launched in 2013, and it’s fantastic to find out how many people enjoy participating. Perhaps people come to Art on the Green to purchase fine art from the silent auction; some people are actually organized enough to start their Christmas shopping early.
With all of this in mind, I can’t help but still wonder: why art? I know why I’m driven to it, but I can’t explain the public interest. This is especially curious since people in today’s world expect instant gratification. Though 24 hours seems relatively instantaneous for the creation of fine art, realize the creation of those pieces from absolute start to finish was hardly instantaneous for the artists. Several hours or even days of preparation and planning went into the pieces that are constructed in those meager 24 hours.
I’ll keep looking for answers to the question “Why art?”, and begin exploring and sharing the what, the when and the why people continue to pursue art. But until then, please join us at this year’s Art on the Green and experience art alongside our local and visiting artists. Until next time.
“Each year, every city in the world that can should have a multi-day festival. More people meeting each other, digging new types of music, new foods, new ideas. You want to stop having so many wars? This could be a step in the right direction.” —Henry Rollins
For more information about Art on the Green and the Green River Arts Council, be sure to Like us on Facebook or check out our website: http://www.grartscouncil.com
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