Adding color to the arts

Artists and art seekers packed in and around Capaha Park Saturday as the Southeast Missouri Arts Council held its fifth annual Artscape festival.

Cars were parked for a quarter-mile on both sides of Perry Avenue as people filed into the park for the biggest turnout in the history of the event.

"It's much bigger this year," said Rebecca Fulgham, executive director of the arts council. "We have food vendors we didn't have before, more arts and craft vendors, more activities for the kids. Everything is just bigger and better."

Fulgham said a crowd estimated at 2,200 attended the event, up 200 from last year. And there were about 10 more vendors this year than last.

Indeed it was an active place Saturday afternoon.

Just beyond the aroma of the park's rose garden and the college baseball game being played at Capaha Field, dozens of booths were set up, selling artwork and jewelry. There were paintings and drawings of old bridges, new bridges, steamboats and houses. There were pottery pieces, concrete collectibles and prancing puppets.

Under a red-and-white-striped tent, arts and crafts activities were set up for children. They could make art pieces out of sand or sign and draw on a huge get-well card for children staying at local hospitals.

Live bands played music throughout the afternoon and members of a martial arts group, dressed in black and using wooden weapons, showcased their skills.

It was the first time the event was held at the park. In past years, the event had been held downtown.

Kelly Patterson attended the event for the first time this year. She brought her 3-year-old daughter, Casey.

Patterson, who bought some food and a halo decoration to wear in her hair, said her daughter enjoyed the puppet show and the bubble-blowing station.

"I think it's great," she said. "It just seems to be kid-friendly. My daughter is just having a great time. It's something new in Cape, something to do where you don't have to leave town to have fun."

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635