River Campus Arts fest sees bigger crowds

Hundreds of art lovers of all ages attended Southeast Missouri State University's second annual River Campus Summer Arts Festival on Saturday for crafts, demonstrations and art of all kinds.

In the River Campus' lower levels, art studios were repurposed to showcase paintings, prints and drawings. Senior Megan Stanley said she and many other students had been preparing work for several months over the course of the semester, and the arts festival is a good way to share the work with others.

"There's been some good foot traffic through here today," she said. "It's been a pleasant surprise."

Also pleasantly surprising was seeing the fruits of her labors every time someone bought one of her prints.

"It's a good feeling," she said. "I told myself, it's not going to sell if it's in my room."

But the art on display wasn't produced just by students. Several artists, including Illinois-based glass sculptor Tim Shepherd, had display booths where attendees could purchase pieces and learn about the artists and their crafts.

Shepherd's swirly teacups and delicate glass flowers were some of the most colorful curiosities on display, and he was happy to explain what it's like to work with molten glass.

"It gets about 2,000 degrees and glows bright orange," he told one young guest. "And it drips just like honey; definitely keeps you on your toes."

Many of the artists, however, were from the Cape Girardeau area. Painter Dave Carter said the festival epitomizes the art-friendly attitude that drew him and his wife to the region.

"We moved here from Kirksville, Missouri, about a year ago, and the art community is something we really liked a lot about Cape Girardeau," he said. "We've been able to meet a lot of really fun people. Through the art community, we've made friends from Sikeston to Ste. Genevive."

He was selling paintings and art supplies, but he was there to meet people and do a little painting, he said.

"The arts fest has been great, and if I make a little bit of money while I'm at it, well, that's fine too," he said.

Face-painting, craft booths and plenty of sidewalk chalk were all part of the festivities as well.

Leah Powers and Lynn Moore, who help run the university-affiliated entrepreneurial incubator Catapult Creative House, were embellishing T-shirts with trim and pockets and selling pieces student artists had made to drum up interest in the new downtown business.

"We're trying to get more people interested in do-it-yourself activities and trying to show them that everybody has some art in them," Powers said.

"We're all about connecting people who can help one another," Moore added.

Rhonda Weller-Stilson, director of the River Campus, said this year's event was more successful than last year's. By mid-afternoon, the 2014 attendance numbers had been eclipsed, and people still were arriving.

"We were at about 1,800 at last count," she said. "It has gone up considerably." About 1,200 attended last year's festival.

She said several factors were responsible for the event's success.

"It's our second year, so that helps, and we've had great sponsors. ... We've put up fliers and posters everywhere," she said. "If i could get something somewhere, I put it there."

An aggressive advertising campaign, expanded entertainment and vendor offerings and beautiful weather drove up attendance, she said.

"We guess-timated that we'd get to 2,000, based on last year's numbers," she explained.

But according to Cristy David and her little girl, Jordan, the best part was getting to see and create art with like-minded folks.

"We're trying to enjoy our neighborhood. I like the music they've got," Cristy said before being interrupted by her chalk-covered 5-year-old.

"The chalk is my favorite part," Jordan said. "Look at my hands!"

tgraef@semissourian.com

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