Music, poetry, sidewalk chalking in Waupaca
By Angie Landsverk
The days leading up to this year’s Arts on the Square offer opportunities to paint crosswalks, attend a poetry reading, chalk sidewalks and listen to live music.
ARTicipation Week begins Sunday, Aug. 11.
That day is being referred to as “Opening Day,” said Marci Reynolds, president of the Waupaca Community Arts Board.
The board organizes Arts on the Square.
The 13th annual arts festival is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 16-17, in downtown Waupaca.
Opening Day
The Sunday, Aug. 11 schedule begin at 9 a.m. with painting the sixth crosswalk for “Murals Under Your Feet,” this year’s community art project.
The Session Street crosswalk by Main Street is being painted.
Sarah Biddinger’s design was chosen for it.
Her drawings, illustrations and greeting cards may be found at Union Street Emporium.
Reynolds encourages families to help paint this crosswalk.
The project is expected to end around 1:30 p.m.
It is followed by a Flower Bar with Gravel Road Farm and drum circle with Bill Kehl.
Both activities are from 1:30-3 p.m. on Session Street.
Reynolds said people may put together a bouquet for a small donation.
“People will be finishing the painting. There will be flowers, drums,” she said. “It will be a fun event for the day.”
More events
There are live music events all week.
Union Street Emporium’s fourth annual Open Mic is at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12.
22 Lakes Brewery is hosting The Rusty Nails at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13.
The band’s focus is traditional blues.
On Wednesday, Aug. 14, Paul Cebar and Tomorrow’s Sound begins playing at 7 p.m., at South Park.
Before the concert, paint a rock and leave it somewhere in the park.
Those who attend the concert are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the Waupaca Area Food Pantry.
The schedule on Thursday, Aug. 15 includes a songwriter’s workshop, chalking sidewalks, poetry reading and music.
Area retailers sponsor Chalk O’ the Town.
Children may chalk the Main Street sidewalks and around Session Street from 2-5 p.m.
Snacks are provided, with music by Waupaca Middle School students at 5 p.m.
The free Emerging Songwriters Workshop for youth ages 9 to 16 is from 2-8 p.m. at Danes Hall.
Space is limited. Preregister by calling the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce at 715-258-7343.
The poetry reading is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Phantom Art Gallery, 215 N. Main St.
“We have seven people scheduled to do poetry. We anticipate more coming from the crowd,” said Poetry Committee member Anita Olson.
The cranky is set to be there with the latest additions to its longest poem ever.
Olson said lemonade and light snacks will be served before people head to Simpson’s Restaurant.
That is where Mojoe and Flipside begins playing at 7:30 p.m.
Last crosswalk, chess costumes
On Friday, Aug. 16, the last crosswalk will be painted.
Dort DeWild did the design for the North Main Street crosswalk by Session Street.
Volunteers are painting it from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
DeWild is a retired Waupaca Middle School art teacher.
People are invited to Session Street from 2-4 p.m., to help make the costumes needed for Saturday’s Human Chess Game.
St. Paul artist and Waupaca native Martha Duerr is leading the workshop.
Reynolds said the game will “be really cool to watch.”