A full week of activities sets the stage for the 48th Annual Art Festival and Show in Madill starting today and continuing through Sunday. The long-time show — staged for the past 47 years — began in 1961.
All activities will be at the Community Services Building at William Ray Memorial Park in Madill. Show times are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.
The judge for the show will be Southwest artist John A. White of Ardmore’s White Eagle Studios. A well-known artist and judge, his watercolors and prints are distributed by more than 100 galleries across the U.S. and Canada. His major shows are in Oklahoma City, Texas, Colorado and Florida.
The show was judged Thursday morning and is now open.
White has donated one of his original artworks for the show. The club will offer it for $1 a ticket or six for $5 as a club fundraiser to provide scholarships to deserving students. The painting, which is matted and framed, will be on display at the show.
Chairmen include Lynda Laird, in charge of set up; Maxine Horn, decorations and Wednesday night’s Guaranteed Purchasers reception; Sunny Raschke, registration; Nita McDaniel, judging arrangements; and Linda Ingle, judge’s luncheon.
At an earlier meeting special invitations were sent to artists throughout the Texoma area and to Guaranteed Purchasers — the “angels” who continue to support the arts in the community. Some 200 to 300 artworks will be shown, judged and available for sale. Artists compete for ribbons and cash awards.
A new, bright-yellow, 14-foot banner will greet the public as they reach the community services building. Also, new yellow-and-black curbside signs will be placed around the city to direct the public and artists to the show.
Club membership is open to anyone interested in art. Watercolor classes are taught at the gallery by Dianne Bennett and oil painting classes by Nita McDaniel. Contact club president Jana Wilburn at (580) 795-9545 or vice president Susan Barton at (580) 564-3721 to ask questions.
The club’s gallery at 403 E. Main St. is open to the public all year from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, excluding holiday weeks. The gallery’s art collection — all signed, original art — includes watercolor, oil painting, pottery, artist prints and original cards.
The club’s next regular meeting will be at noon, Nov. 3 at the gallery.
