Watercolor Workshop Offered, Northwestern Student Art Display Set for November First Friday at Runnymede

October 30, 2025

ALVA, Okla. -- Artwork will be on display and created for the November First Friday Artwalk at the Runnymede in downtown Alva on Nov. 7 from 6-8 p.m.

The Nescatunga Arts and Humanities Council will play host to students in the Northwestern Oklahoma State University visual arts program as they show some of the work they’ve created.

Nescatunga members Thomas Cornell, assistant professor of visual arts, and David Poindexter, associate professor of visual arts, are the faculty members who teach art classes at the university. More about their program may be found at www.nwosu.edu/visualarts.

Several students plan to show their artwork from figure drawing, painting, sculpture, graphic design and photography classes at Northwestern.

Artwork will be included from students Octavia Baldwin, sophomore computer science major from Laverne; Gabriel Bussinger, senior speech and theatre major from Woodward; Bentley Cox, senior visual arts major from Alva; Macy Claire Eads, junior psychology major from Woodward; Katelyn Findley, junior visual arts major from Stillwater; Piper Gallagher, junior media and communication major from Medford; Savannah Mingus, junior health and sports science education major from Okarche; Evan Mitchell, sophomore visual arts major from Cherokee; Olivia Saner, senior health and sports science education major from Dawson, Nebraska; Megan Valdez, senior visual arts major from Alva; and Elayna Warrington, junior biology/natural history major from Alva. Artwork from past visual arts students, Nyel Kennedy of Norman and Kelli Ruwaldt of Alva, will also be displayed.

Nescatunga vice president Kristy San Soucie, an art teacher in the South Barber (Kansas) school system, will present a watercolor workshop during the evening. Those participating will be painting fall-theme greeting cards using watercolors, stencils and rubber stamps, all provided by Nescatunga. The cost for the workshop is $10 and may be paid at the event. Please RSVP to NescatungaArts@yahoo.com if planning to participate in the workshop so the organization knows how to prepare.

Nescatunga members also plan to do some cleaning inside the Runnymede again this year for a Day of Kindness in Northwest Oklahoma project. Members will also be decorating the building for the holidays.

As part of the Bring Christmas Home for the Holidays celebration in Alva, the Runnymede will be bustling with Christmas cheer again on Friday, Dec. 5, from 6-8 p.m. when Nescatunga members will have last-minute Christmas items for sale. Then on Saturday, Dec. 6, Nescatunga will be offering its Holiday Store for Kids again, where children may shop for family, friends, teachers, pets, etc. The Northwestern Campus Cabinet Food Pantry will be offering Photos with Santa again in the Runnymede. Stay tuned for more information about these fun Christmas events.

One-year memberships to the organization are $25, with four $5 discounts a year to workshops and events sponsored by the Council, plus $5 off a Nescatunga Arts Festival booth space. Upon payment, a membership card containing four numbers to be checked off when attending a Nescatunga event and one spot to check off for a festival booth space will be issued, ultimately returning the $25 membership fee if utilizing all five spaces.

Membership is open to anyone who would like to support the arts. The $25 investment helps to fund the annual Nescatunga Arts Festival, which is set for June 5-6, 2026, at the Alva Recreation Complex; First Friday Artwalk events; student scholarships; and more.

Members of all kinds are welcome, whether they are silent supporters who want to provide funds to support the organization each year or those who are creative and would like to provide workshops, exhibit artwork and help where needed. Members can also volunteer to provide refreshments at First Friday Artwalk events, or be the people who are willing to provide their help in whatever is needed for any of the Council’s activities.

Membership fees and donations to the Council are also tax-deductible.

Checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 152, Alva, OK 73717, or payments may be made via Nescatunga’s PayPal account at https://paypal.me/NescatungaArts or by searching for the email NescatungaArts@yahoo.com within the service. Memberships may also be purchased at any workshop or event that the Council sponsors.

Any questions may be directed to Heather Penner, Nescatunga president, at (580) 748-1905 or at hlpenner91@gmail.com.

The Nescatunga Arts and Humanities Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Runnymede and is open to anyone interested in the arts or being involved with this active organization.

More information about the Nescatunga Arts and Humanities Council can be found at www.nescatunga.org.

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