By Mary Owen
Jahn Hoover’s 2009 Beauty, Fashion and Wellness Show was so well received, it left many folks asking for more.
“I brainstormed with several people and what we came up with was an arts festival,” said Hoover, a stylist from the Hair Konnection in Mill City. “We felt that this would be a great draw to the Santiam Canyon.”
Hoover’s grass-roots effort has launched the area’s inaugural CanyonArts Festival, an all-day event bringing together fitness, arts and fashion. Themed “Spring Awakening,” the festival is set for Saturday, April 24 at Santiam High School in Mill City.
“Art appeals to everyone, even if they are unconscious of the fact,” said Hoover, who expects record turn-out. “We love art in our automobiles, our architecture, music, dance, sculpture, painting, jewelry and fly-tying. This is a gathering for people to offer their appreciation for design concepts and to find things they love.”
CanyonArts Festival will benefit Hearts to Arts, a local non-profit organization dedicated to returning arts education to public schools. Admission is free to the event, but a portion of any purchases will go to the organization, Hoover said.
“My team from the Hair Konnection will be involved with the hair fashion portion of the evening performance, which showcases local music, fashion and dance,” he said. “This will be a very exciting day of events.”
Kicking off the day will be a 10K, 5K and family fun run at 9 a.m. at Santiam High School, sponsored by the North Santiam Canyon Economic Development Corporation.
The run, followed by a strawberry waffle brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will benefit NSCED’s Santiam River Trail project. “Lumberjack Scramble” is the theme for this year’s run, and contestants are encouraged to wear their flannel shirts and suspenders or other logging attire.
Local runners, including Keri Sanders, Alisha Hansen and Jerry Korson, are helping to plan the route. Awards will be given at noon. Register at www.canyonartsfestival.com.
Between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., Santiam Hearts to Arts will host a benefit arts-and-crafts show and gallery in the high school gym. A gallery area will feature the work of local artists and there will be a drawing of artworks by local artist Rebecca Davis and others.
“Some of these artists will have works for sale, but some are just coming to let our community know how much talent we have right here close to home,” said coordinator Renate Medley with Hearts to Arts.
Saturday, April 24
Santiam High School, Mill City
A community art show to benefit Hearts to Arts
CanyonArts Festival, 503-897-2295 or
visit www.canyonartsfestival.com
With advance notice, creative artists and artisans are invited to participate at no fee, but a 15 percent of sales donation is requested. Demonstrations including bonseki, or Japanese sand painting, by Herb Bastuscheck, will take place during the day. Other participants include painter David Stuntzner, stained-glass artist Garw Swanson, potter Mark Hebing, and muralist Denise Harrell.
At 5 p.m., dinner will be available by Trexler Farm, followed by the Spring Awakening Evening Performance at 6 p.m., coordinated by Hoover, in the Santiam High School auditorium. The show will feature dance performances by Tara Manning’s Steppin’ Up Jazz Dance youth classes and Caroll Hueller’s ballroom dance students.
“Each one of us has a little art in our heart,” said Manning, who is bringing her students to show that dance is an art. “This festival will reach in and pull out the creative side of everyone attending.”
A $15 admission charge will also include fashion shows by Break the Chain Apparel, the Dress Barn, and Why Not Creations of Gates. A highlight of the evening will be the trendy tie-die wedding apparel by local specialty clothing designer Karen Widmer.
The CanyonArts Festival ends at 9 a.m., but participants are welcome to attend an after-party at the Eagles Lodge featuring the band, Canyon Fever.
