Event opens with Friday night street dance
By Angie Landsverk
Arts on the Square is off the square again this year.
“Last year, we had to move the site,” said Marci Reynolds. “We had overwhelming comments and enthusiasm, so we’re keeping it down there.”
Reynolds is president of the Waupaca Community Arts Board (WCAB), the nonprofit that organizes the arts festival.
The 13th annual event is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 16-17, on North Main Street and in Rotary Riverview Park.
Reconstruction of the parking around the city square in 2018 resulted in the board’s decision to move the event there.
“It made everybody come together,” she said. “And, of course, Wautopia had a lot to do with it.”
Wautopia was last year’s community art project.
The approximately 30-feet high temporary wooden structure hosted activities.
“It’s hard to top Wautopia,” Reynolds said. “But on the other hand, with the street painting. we’ve had a whole summer of feel good.”
This year’s community art project is “Murals Under Our Feet.”
Six crosswalks have been painted.
The final one is being painted on North Main Street near Session Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16.
Head there to volunteer, or watch.
Friday night
Arts on the Square (AOTS) then begins that evening with the street dance.
The People Brothers Band is playing from 7-10 p.m. on the Main Stage.
Reynolds said the award-winning band plays at major festivals.
“They are up and coming. We’re lucky to get them,” she said.
The dance is free and includes fire spinning during the band’s intermission, with food and beverages available.
In addition, Randall M. Scoops is delivering free Babcock ice cream to the street dance.
The rehabbed 1957 International Harvester metro van has been traveling throughout the state this summer, sharing ice cream and information about the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“They reached out to us,” Reynolds said. “They’re bringing enough ice cream for 800 people.”
The Phantom Art Gallery is open at 215 N. Main St. from 5-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, and again from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17.
It features the artwork of about 20 local and regional artists.
“For the first time, we’re having quilts,” said WCAB member Anita Olson. “We like that we’re not the same every time.”
Wine is being sold during gallery hours.
Saturday music, workshops, artists
AOTS includes art, music, workshops and food from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17.
Approximately 35 juried artists will be on North Main Street.
“Some are favorites from previous years, and some are new,” Reynolds said.
They represent various genres, including painting, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, glass, ceramics, graphics and photography.
The festival has three stages.
The Main Stage is on North Main Street.
Performing there will be the Stanton West Trio, Tom Pease, Amelia and the Earharts, Hillary Reynolds and Trapper Schoepp.
The Jazz Stage is at Danes Hall.
Janet Planet and Tom Theabo take the stage first, followed by Ziji.
The Underground Stage is in Rotary Riverview Park.
The lineup there includes The Band Wilhelm, Walt Hamburger and the Taste Buddies and Kyerokaya.
The Underground area also includes other activities.
Shuvani Emporium offers body art using henna.
Brady Looker, of Waupaca, is doing a glass blowing demonstration.
First-time artists show and sell three to five pieces of their artwork in the Emerging Artists Tent.
Twelve-year-old Aidan Van Ornum is sharing his new hobby of spray paint galaxy art.
A free community chess tournament is from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
All skill levels are welcome for the non-rated tournament.
The Human Chess Game is then set for 2 p.m., in the park.
Ryan Hemmila and Brandon Krcmar face off, using live chess pieces in full costumes.
The Session Street Workshop Tent hosts the second part of the chess piece costume workshop, zines, silk screens, food art and wood carving.
Zines are self-published, original works of art or text in booklet form.
“We’re putting together one big zine after AOTS,” Reynolds said. “It’s a creative outlet for the arts for all ages.”
Silver Mist Garden Center is creating a pop-up park on Session Street.
The Shuvani Tribal Belly Dancers are performing there, and WILW 96.3 and WAUP 99.1 will also be on hand.
The Pedal Cloud is returning to AOTS.
For $1, people may hop on and help pedal.
Its route is the alley behind North Main Street.
Reynolds says pulling off AOTS is a collaborative effort.
Community First Credit Union is the title sponsor, and WCAB receives Waupaca hotel/motel tax dollars to support the event.
“There’s a long list of donors, from community members to businesses,” she said.