2007 was a very good year for the arts in Eureka Springs with many events, new galleries, festivals, and great press that helped further the town's reputation as an art destination.

The Abetica gallery in Rogers promoted Eureka Springs by hosting two shows early in the year. A February show featured Al Hooks, Zeek Taylor, and Jason Feltrope. The gallery hosted a Eureka Springs group show in March featuring such notable locals as Denise Ryan and Mark Rademacher. Both receptions and shows were very well received.

May brought the Festival of the Arts that featured dozens of events. The festival kicked off with the highly anticipated artrageous parade on the first weekend. Saturday evening gallery receptions were held each week. During the month, Zarks once again brought Tim Cotterill, the Frogman, to town for what has become one of the most anticipated shows of the year.

On the third Friday in May thirty artists exhibited their work during the 17th annual White Street Studio Walk, one of the most heavily attended art events of the year. The weather was perfect and brought out huge crowds to attend the neighborhood event.

Monthly first Saturday gallery strolls kept the art scene in the forefront especially in June, July, and August. And once again many Eureka artists ventured outside of the city limits and participated in the annual Bentonville Art Walk held during June.

September brought Northwest Arkansas the first annual Pinnacle Hills Promenade Art Festival held in Rogers. The event was co-produced by Steve Schmidt of the Eureka Springs Artist Registry and Dan Stiel of Rogers. Eureka Springs artists comprised more than half of the exhibitors in the fair. The first day of the show was extremely wet with one rainstorm after another. Artists showing for the first time outdoors felt as if they had been properly baptized for such venues. Sunday however brought sunny skies and much larger crowds and sales.

Also in September, the third Artery installation was unveiled in downtown Eureka Springs and once again an unsightly concrete wall was hidden by 27 four by eight foot paintings. The second annual artists studio tour, an Artseye view, occurred during the latter part of month. Visitors were treated to inside glimpses of artists' studios in and around the village.

The Inn of the Ozarks hosted the third annual Eureka Springs Fall Art Fair on Thanksgiving weekend. Cold weather did not deter art lovers and early Christmas shoppers from flocking to the convention center. John Rankine took Best In Show for his photography.

Besides the mentioned events, artists and galleries worked, displayed, hosted receptions, and were constantly «out there» all year long during 2007. Many thanks for all who worked and worked to make the year a success. Also many thanks to the art patrons who ultimately made all hard work pay off. Patrons are our benefactors and our «audience» for whom we perform.

My New Year's wish for 2008 is for an even bigger and better year for the art community of Eureka Springs and a sincere wish that art will continue to bring joy to our troubled world. Peace to all.

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