Wide Variety of Fine Artists, Crafters to Display at 54th Nescatunga Arts Festival June 6-7 at the Alva Recreation Complex

As of June 2, 44 fine artists and crafters booths, which include eight student entries, have registered to be a part of the 54th Nescatunga Arts Festival June 6-7 at the Alva Recreation Complex at 1887 Goldbug Blvd. in Alva, Oklahoma. Booths and fun activities will be at the Pete and Ruth Leslie Fieldhouse.

The festival will kick off Friday, June 6, from 4-9 p.m. and continue on Saturday, June 7, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Artists and crafters will be open for sale, and live entertainment will be inside the building.

Festival T-Shirts for Sale

As a fundraiser for the Festival, a new design has been created for T-shirts. Those interested in purchasing a shirt may do so online at https://bit.ly/Festival-Shirt. The company will ship the shirts directly to the address provided, but most likely won’t arrive before the festival.

Quilt Show

The annual Quilt Show, organized by the Peace by Piece Quilt Guild and other volunteers, will show off the talents of local quilters in a room on the north end of the building. Contact Helena Leysar at (970) 218-7289 if interested in displaying a quilt. New this year for the Quilt Show will be a People’s Choice award for the favorite quilt on display. The winner will receive a $50 prize, given by an anonymous donor.

Limited Artist, Crafter Booth Space Available

A few inside spaces are still available, along with outside booth space for fine artists, crafters or authors. More information and registration forms are available at www.nescatunga.org.

New this year for the fine artist’s booths OR crafter’s booths will be a “People’s Choice” award based on the votes from the patrons attending this year’s festival. One booth winner will receive a $50 prize provided by an anonymous donor. Voting will end at 2 p.m. on June 7.

Sugar Show Canceled

And, unfortunately, the hard decision to cancel the Sugar Show portion of the festival was made because of the lack of entries this year. Those who entered have been notified of the cancellation.

Other news about this year’s festival, including the need for volunteers to help work various jobs during the festival and provide items for the annual Gourmet Food Booth, the arts council’s largest fundraiser, and more can be found online at https://www.nescatunga.org/blog.

Those participating in this year’s festival are listed below:

Fine Art Entries AND Handmade Craft entries:

Amber Anderson (Amber Andersen Art), Woodward

She said her practice explores the hidden beauty and overlooked stories of the natural world, particularly insects, fungi, and wild plants. With watercolor as her primary medium, she works in intricate layers to create work that feels alive and full of hidden beauty.

David Billen (Red Plains Photography), Edmond

His photography showcases Oklahoma and will have canvas images and hand-framed prints.

JoDe Bradt, Alva 

She has entered the fine arts categories of mixed media and fiber arts, as well as bringing many craft items in the handmade decorative items, home goods/accessories and repurposed items areas.

Marcia Campbell, Tulsa

She has entered mixed media and painting. She said her paintings explore the beauty of African tribes whose traditions are endangered, and also focuses on the hopeful future for the younger generations. She is the wife of fellow festival artist Yusuf Etudaiye. She will be set up on Saturday only.

Angelia Case, Alva

She has entered in the fine arts categories of graphics, painting and photography, and will have many items for sale made from her artwork, including larger and smaller prints of her original paintings, which are mostly floral, photography pieces, as well as fun puzzles, postcards and a food platter. She also will have various flavors of homemade jelly that she and her sister Valarie Case have made. Case serves as the publicity/marketing assistant for the Nescatunga Arts Festival.

Valarie Case, Alva

She will have many photographs for sale taken in the Alva, Oklahoma, and northwest Oklahoma area, along with some images from vacation travels, along with digital art and mixed media creations. She also creates jewelry using paper beads made from junk mail catalogs, magazines, wrapping paper, etc. She also will have Christmas ornaments. Case serves as the publicity/marketing chair for the Nescatunga Arts Festival.

Siera Doherty (Redlands Retro Western Photography), Alva

She will have western and ranch lifestyle photographs and prints.

Yusuf Etudaiye, Tulsa

He will have pottery/sculpture in the fine arts division and functional and non-functional pottery in the craft area. Etudaiye has attended the festival for several years and is known for handmade stoneware pottery sculptures with an Afrocentric influence. He will be set up on Saturday only.

Salye Gorrell, Enid

She is entered in graphics, mixed media, painting and pottery/sculpture. She paints in all media, including woodburning. She will be attending on Saturday only.

Josh Hinton (Just Joshin’ Art), Pond Creek

He will have paintings on canvas in both acrylic and oil, with most having bright colors. Subjects will range from animals, still life and landscapes.

April Kellman (Strings Attached Jewelry), McLoud

She is entered in the fine arts category of designer arts and jewelry and also will have craft jewelry. Along with jewelry, she will have beaded home décor and other accessories like headbands, bookmarks, and angel hangers, as well as a tree of life ring and window hangers.

Warren Little, Alva

He is entered in graphics, mixed media and painting categories. He runs the “Old Man” Gallery in downtown Alva. Everyone is welcome to stop in as he’s open when he’s there.

Merlin Little Thunder, Tulsa

He is entered in the painting category in fine arts and will have landscape and animal paintings. He also will have craft items.

Linda Myers (Linda Sue Beads and Things), Fairfax

She is bringing acrylic paintings in the fine arts area and handmade beaded jewelry in crafts.

Beatriz Angeli Penaflor and mom Tisha Penaflor, Shattuck

                Beatriz is entered in the digital art category in fine arts, and her mom is bringing craft items. Beatriz’s art is made with the use of electronics and printed out like a comic. She also will have watercolor paintings in various sizes. Tisha is bringing bows and ribbons made from fabric and embellishments, chair clips and head bands.

Mary Riegel, Alva

She is entered in the fiber arts category in fine arts and will have handwoven narrow bands, quilts and crocheted items. She also will have various craft items for the home.

Blair Tillery (Blair’s Beads), McLoud

She is entered in the fine arts category of designer arts and jewelry and handmade crafts of decorative items and jewelry. She will have beaded jewelry and jewelry made from natural materials such as stones, bone, and shell, along with UV resin work and other decorative items.

Kellie Walker (Nana K’s Place), Drummond

She is entered in pottery/sculpture in fine arts and also has various craft items. She said she does epoxy and UV resin crafts as well as upcycled jewelry made from clothing.

Cheyenne Wilson (Bubbles Stained Glass and Fine Art), Alva

She has entered both fine arts and crafts and will have various stained glass designs.

Handmade Craft Entries:

Devon Ashton (Love, Mom), Aline

She is offering a variety of handmade decorative items and home goods/accessories.

Christopher Berry (CJ’s Place), Enid

He is bringing paintings and t-shirts for black light.

Better Together Creations/Cheesecake, Alva

Lonnie Sanders, Jr. has entered the craft food category with cheesecake and also said they make toy car garages.

Lorraine Case, Alva

She will have many types of handmade craft items including sock monkeys, terrycloth teddy bears, crocheted pin cushions, car coasters, eyeglass holders, cord holders, cup carriers, hot pads, pot holders, neck coolers, closet safes, crocheted hangers, jar openers, bookmarkers, and many other items.

Tiffany Crossland (Crafts by Crossland), Warr Acres

She is bringing diamond art paintings, handmade items with Cricut and resin, and barrettes made with recycled candy bar wrappers. She will attend Saturday only.

John Doffer, Enid

He is offering wood crafts, wood turned pens, jewelry and polished rocks.

Lezlie Gilbert (Ornaments for a Cause), Enid

Her crafts will consist of Cancer/Disease/Cause Awareness Ornaments, microwave safe bowl and plate cozies, microwave safe baked potato bags, fold & stitch wreaths, character quilts, and miscellaneous machine embroidery items.

Errol Hada (Lighthouse Outreach Center), Bartlesville

He is bringing custom-made children’s rockers.

Helen Jones (Pups Got Style), Guthrie

She is bringing pet collars, snuffle balls and mats and other pet accessories.

Kristi Lay (LB Country Lighting), Coffeyville, Kansas

She is offering color-changing solar lights made out of landscape timbers with different figurines on the front and a seven-color changing solar light on top.

James McCaslin (JM Crafts), Yukon

He is bringing birdhouses, wooden cars, trains, banks, and children’s PVC chairs.

Steve Maier (Tiny Treasures), Alva

He is bringing tiny cacti and aroma bracelets to sell.

Julie Osborn (Rustic Wood by J/S), Enid

She will have signs, jewelry, mugs, and wood items.

Randy Parker (R&B Concrete Lawn Products), Carmen

He is bringing concrete birds – cardinals, blue jays, robins and others.

Denaye Prigmore (Amazin’ Glazin’), Alva

She will have homemade candies, cookies and sweet breads.

Jem Stephens, Alva

He is bringing everything from 3D printed items to upcycled Nerf blasters and mad hatter top hats.

Rick Wallace, Cherokee

He is bringing charcuterie boards and walnut end tables.

Student Entries:

Aiden and Avaleigh Brinkley, Alva

Aiden’s artwork will include horror characters and other comic book art as well as acrylic paintings. Avaleigh will have bracelets.

Andrew Lopez Castro (Sweet Sunbun Craft), Oklahoma City

He will have handmade crocheted plushies and small handmade jewelry.

Lopez Castro, Oklahoma City

Andrew’s twin brother will be set up outside selling snow cones.

Amaya Evans, Alva

She is bringing a painted 3D-printed mini of an angelic judge.

Ella Greenert, Mannford

She is bringing glass cups with prints, snow globe glass cups with prints, plastic water bottles with prints, key chains with prints, can koozies and popsicle sleeves.

Kayla Maier, Alva

She will be showing her miniature acrylic paintings.

Katlin Smithey (Ember’s Love), Alva

She is entered in the fine arts category of designer arts and jewelry as well as the crafts categories of handmade decorative item, craft jewelry and home goods/accessories. She will have handmade nickel and hypoallergenic earrings, bracelets, keychains, crocheted scarfs, potholders, washcloths, dish scrubbies, resin poured small items, and 3D printed items. She also makes fresh bath salts in a variety of scents.

Morgan Vickers, Eden Yauk and Alexa Peace, Alva

These three students are sharing booth space to showcase their fine arts and craft items. They will have antler and crystal jewelry, monochrome watercolor paintings, nature paintings, galactic paintings, animal pencil drawings, bookmarks, squishpet biomes, slime, stickers and caricatures.

Fun Activities & Food Trucks

Family fun activities include inflatables from Nam and Pops, face painting by Emma Cline with Cake Face, and a Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge nature art booth.

Nam & Pops will be set up from 4-8 p.m. on Friday of the festival and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Wrist bands will be sold for $5 per person and are good for both days of the festival. They plan to set up an obstacle course with a pool, slip n dip with water, a toddler pool and a dry bounce house.

Cake Face will be set up selling face painting designs from 4-9 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The Salt Plains booth will only be set up on Friday of the festival.

Food trucks, which will serve up Indian tacos, Bierox, German potato salad, sandwiches, Mexican food of all kinds, pulled pork, desserts, and more, will be located outside the building both days.

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.

-30-