THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409230229
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NAGS HEAD LENGTH: Long : 110 lines
INKY THUMB PRINTS become birds and lady bugs. Macaroni twists turn into glittery jewelry. Colored soap bubbles hover overhead and the entire parking lot at Kelly's Restaurant is transformed into a colorful collage each fall at the Dare County Arts Council's annual Artrageous event.
Begun five years ago as a fund raiser for a proposed Outer Banks youth center, Artrageous is a day-long festival which has earned more than $18,000 so far. Half of the money is earmarked for the youth center. The rest is returned to the non-profit arts council.
This year, the fun runs from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1.
An auction of children's and professional artists' work will be held at 7 p.m. the following evening at the Village at Nags Head Beach Club.
Artists - and art admirers - of all ages are invited to attend the festivities.
``You don't have to be a professional artist to become involved in the arts and appreciate them,'' said Kerry Oaksmith-Sanders, chair of the 1994 Artrageous activities. ``The booths, displays and live artists who will be working on site will open everyone's mind to different forms of art.
``It's an exciting and enjoyable day for all.''
About a dozen booths offering hand-on activities are the festival's main focus. Most of the crafts are geared to children ages 2 through 16.
But adults also will enjoy making block prints, designing jewelry, weaving on large looms, having their faces painted and taking part in other creative tasks - most of which are offered for free, or for a small donation.
Throughout the afternoon, at least 15 professional artists will work in acrylics, water colors, pastels and other mediums on outdoor easels set up around Kelly's parking lot.
Some artists plan to donate their new work for the Sunday night auction. Others already have sent completed canvases for the fund-raiser.
The highlight of each Artrageous has always been the 10-by-10 event.
In previous years, 10 professional artists have collaborated on two 20-by-22-inch canvases, which later were auctioned as collectors' items.
This year, 10 children, ages 11-14, will work on the huge paintings in two separate groups. Each young artist will start the piece, then pass their canvas to the other students. Each person will put their own personal touches on every one of the group paintings. The 10 finished products will be auctioned on Sunday.
Child artists were selected from the winners of the 1993 Artrageous poster contest. Juliane Kelly took first place in that competition. Her ``celestial-themed'' painting is featured on T-shirts for this year's event.
``We're really excited to have the kids doing the 10-by-10s this year. Children's art is so amazing,'' Oaksmith-Sanders said. ``Unlike work from many adult artists, children's art is not opinionated at all. It hasn't been labored with or thought out. It might have a drip running down one side - and that's part of it.
``It comes from their souls, very clean, and all so different.''
Children who were not chosen to participate in the 10-by-10 event can still take part in group painting.
A 5-by-8-foot canvas will be set up in the parking lot all day. Anyone who wants to can add something to the giant work of art - so long as it follows the ``something celestial'' theme.
This all-hands-on-brushes canvas also will be auctioned Sunday. Last year, the large group painting earned more than $800 for Artrageous.
``People who have never painted before got into it. Everyone was painting at once. It was wonderful,'' said Nags Head artist Glenn Eure, who has participated in Artrageous events since their inception. ``The entire day is about art as a collaborative experience - and that's unusual in painting, to do it with other artists. It's a lot of fun. Really, it can be hilarious.''
Besides visual artists, musicians, writers and even a surf board shaper will be part of the party. The Manteo Middle School jazz band will perform as well as local acoustic and electric ensembles. Children's author Suzanne Tate will read from her popular nature books. Radio stations will broadcast from live remotes. And New Sun surf shop has donated a ``celestial'' surf board to be auctioned.
Hot dogs and sodas will be offered all day Saturday, along with vegetarian and spicy delights from Chili Peppers restaurant. Goombay's, Tortuga's Lie, Rundown Cafe, Blue Point and other Outer Banks restaurants also are donating food for a cocktail party before the auction. Tickets for the party and auction are $10 per person, available at the door.
All of the pieces donated - or being made - for the auction will be on display Saturday at Kelly's Restaurant parking lot, surrounded by working artists, children and families.
``The idea is we'll provide the materials,'' Eure said. ``And everyone will paint. Artrageous is an unusual opportunity for everyone to be an artist.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
These student artists will be working on group paintings during
Saturday's Artrageous Art Extravaganza. The paintings will be
auctioned at 7 p.m. Oct. 2.
ARTRAGEOUS ART
A family art festival with hands-on craft booths, professional
artist demonstrations, group painting activities, food, music and
more, this all-day event is a fund-raiser for the Dare County Arts
Council and a proposed youth center.
WHERE: The parking lot of Kelly's Restaurant, U.S. Route 158
bypass, Milepost 10, Nags Head.
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
COST: Free admission to the festival. Some booths request small
donations for materials.
An auction of professional and children's art will follow Sunday,
Oct. 2 at the Village at Nags Head Beach Club. Cocktails and
appetizers at 7 p.m., auction at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person,
available at the door.
by CNB