Early Registration Fee Deadline Extended for Nescatunga Arts Festival, Sugar Show

Early registration fees for the 54th Nescatunga Arts Festival and fourth Sugar Show in Alva, Oklahoma, have been extended until May 10 for the June 6-7 event in the Pete and Ruth Leslie Fieldhouse at the Alva Recreation Complex just south of Alva, Oklahoma. After this new date, the fees will double for fine artists, crafters, authors and Sugar Show registrations.

Sponsorships also have been secured for the $200 Sugar Show Best of Show award from Kim Baugh and for two new awards -- a $50 People’s Favorite Artist/Crafter Booth and People’s Favorite Quilt in the Quilt Show. Both have been donated anonymously. Other sponsorships of monetary awards are available.

Anyone who would like to be a named sponsor of the monetary awards is welcome and should contact Nescatunga president Heather Penner at (580) 748-1905 or hlpenner91@gmail.com.

Fine artists, crafters and book authors will open for business Friday, June 6, from 4-9 p.m. and Saturday, June 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. An opening ceremony is planned for Saturday at 8:30 a.m. The Sugar Show also will take place on June 7.

Entertainment of various types also is planned for both days, along with food trucks, the quilt show sponsored by the Peace by Piece Quilt Guild, family fun and the annual “Gourmet Food Booth” on Saturday. Volunteer bakers are needed to provide their goodies once again this year.

Entry forms may be found online at www.nescatunga.org. Spaces for 10x10 booths for fine artists, crafters and authors are available either inside or outside and are $40 for the first space and $25 for each additional space.

Students may display their arts or crafts items by registering for one free booth. If extra booth spaces are needed, each additional space is $25. Teachers who would like to show their students’ work collectively may register for one free booth. Students are encouraged to be present if displaying within a group setting.

There are eight Fine Arts categories for judging, including

·         Designer Arts & Jewelry (created by artists in glass, wood, mineral, etc.)

·         Digital Art (New Category - Computer-generated artwork)

·         Fiber Arts (Quilting, Weaving, basketry, knitting, crocheting, etc.)

·         Graphics (Pencil, Pen & Ink, Pastels, Printmaking, etc.)

·         Mixed Media

·         Painting (Oils, Acrylics, Watercolors)

·         Photography

·         Pottery / Sculpture (may be ceramic, wood, metal, mineral, etc.)

Fine artists are eligible for one award of cash and ribbons in each category. The awards will include a Best of Show prize for $200, first place $150, second place $100, and third place $75. The festival judges may award any place to an entry based on merit, and if, in the opinion of the judges, none of the entries in a category meet the standards of excellence, no award will be given.

Student artwork will be judged by the overall exhibit for one possible first-place prize of $25.

Craft categories include wood toys/furniture, ceramics/glass, clothing, soft toys, decorative items, jewelry, craft food, repurposed items, home goods/accessories, and others. Craft booths will not be judged.

Fine artists and crafters should provide their own display setup, tables, chairs, tent, etc.

Sugar Show Registration Open

Bakers of all skill levels are encouraged to get their registrations in to compete in this year’s Sugar Show and battle for prizes the morning of June 7. Sugar artists will create decorated cakes, cookies and cupcakes in the fourth annual contest. This year’s theme is “Games.” The competition this year will take place in the middle of all of the booths, so vendors and the public can witness the contest.

Entries will be accepted from:

·         Professionals -- those who sell their items or have won the Aspiring Sugar Artist category at a previous Sugar Show

·         Aspiring Sugar Artists – those with intermediate skills who are still perfecting their craft

·         Young People (ages 13-17)

·         Younger People (ages 8-12)

The decorated cake category is only open to professionals and aspiring sugar artists. Pros may create either non-edible dummy cakes or edible cakes, but aspiring sugar artists will create edible cakes. All cakes must have at least two tiers.

All four divisions may enter the Cookies and Cupcakes categories. Bakers should prepare at least a dozen decorated cookies for the contest, but are encouraged to make additional treats to donate to the “Gourmet Food Booth” fundraising effort for the Council.

Professionals will compete against professionals, aspiring artists against aspiring artists, and the two younger divisions against those of their same age brackets.

All divisions will compete head-to-head for a $200 Best of Show prize from among all items entered in the show.

Other awards will include a People’s Choice Award, Best in Class (professionals-$150), and Best in Class (aspiring-$100). Best in Class awards also will be presented in the two young people divisions for their overall entries. All Sugar Show awards are also up for named sponsors.

The entry fee for Professionals and Aspiring Artists is $25 per category. Entry fees for the two young people divisions are $10 for each category.

Entry fees will double after the May 10 early registration deadline.

Questions about the Sugar Show should be directed to April Ridgway at (580) 748-4880 or maxandapril@hotmail.com or emailed to NescatungaArts@yahoo.com.

Quilt Show sponsored by Peace by Piece Quilt Guild

The annual Quilt Show sponsored by Peace by Piece Quilt Guild will take place again this year during the festival. Something new will be a People's Choice Award, where those viewing the quilts may vote for their favorite. The winner will receive a $50 prize that has been provided by an anonymous donor. Quilts currently are included in the Fiber Arts category for the Fine Arts judging but must be in a booth space to be considered for a Fine Arts award. If anyone would like to show a quilt in the annual show, please contact Debbie Schwerdtfeger at diamondiq@sbcglobal.net. 

Yearly membership dues of $25 for the Council, as well as donations, booth payments, etc., can be mailed to P.O. Box 152, Alva, OK 73717 or paid online via Nescatunga’s PayPal account at https://paypal.me/NescatungaArts by searching for the email NescatungaArts@yahoo.com within the service.

The Nescatunga Arts Festival is sponsored by the Nescatunga Arts and Humanities Council, Inc., in cooperation with the Alva Chamber of Commerce, the City of Alva Tourism Committee, the City of Alva and the Alva Recreational Complex.

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