WORDS / MORGAN COOK

Join Fayetteville and the Walton Arts Center this summer throughout May and June for the Artosphere Festival, a celebration of Arts and Nature throughout Northwest Arkansas.

This fifth annual arts and nature festival will be held all over the NWA region and is sure to be a fun summer event for all ages to attend. Artosphere’s mission is to celebrate artists influenced by nature, who inspire us to live more sustainable lives.

Artosphere will feature a large number of events throughout the two months with happenings ranging from musical ensembles like Trail Mix Concert Tour by Artosphere Festival Orchestra, to more interactive events like the Interactive Earth Day celebration, Art Night Out: Inner World. All events taking place will involve kids and family, movement, music, all the way to visual arts.

“At its heart, Artosphere represents what makes Northwest Arkansas so special” said Jenni Swain, VP of Programming at Walton Arts Center, “the festival invites meaningful dialogue about nature through innovative arts experiences”.

Interested in Artosphere and want to learn more about what to expect before the festival begins? There will be an opportunity for the community to get to know a little more about the festival, held at the Walton Arts Center on May 16th at 5:30pm. This “Artosphere Celebration” will include live music, coming festival highlights along with specialty food and beverages. It will be free, open to the public, and surely a great time.

When speaking on some of the events planned, Swain explained “the children’s theater piece, Compagnia TPO’s Bleu, encourages families to explore the depths of the ocean, while the popular Trail Mix Concert Tour provides a musical journey on foot or bike through the Razorback Greenway Trails. Then we welcome back the Chapel Music Series and 80 musicians from around the world to perform as the Artosphere Festival Orchestra”.

“Visual arts challenge our views and delight our senses with the street art of Maser, multi-sensory exhibit Synesthesia and Envirofountain sculptures” Swain added.

The festival is a great, environmental and inspirational way to jump start any of your 2014 summer adventures.

A few of Artosphere’s partners include Arsaga’s, Clubhaus Fitness, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, EcoPotential NGO, Fayetteville Underground, Greenhouse Grille, and UpStream Art.

Below is the tentative schedule lineup from the Artosphere 2014 press release. For more information and updates leading up to the start of the festival, visit waltonartscenter.org/artosphere/. To purchase low cost tickets for any of the Artosphere events, call (479) 443-5600 or visit their website.

Kids and Family Events:

The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer:  Puppet theater that tells the story of love in an ecologically scary time. May 13-15, 7pm & May 17 at 2pm and 8pm in Starr Theater, Walton Arts Center. Tickets are $6.

Compagnia TPO’s Bleu:  Interactive children’s theater that takes audiences on a journey into the deep blue abyss. May 24, 9:30am, 11am and 2pm in Starr Theater, Walton Arts Center. Tickets are $6.

Trail Mix Concert Tour:  Features music by Artosphere Festival Orchestra ensembles, Street Drum Corps, Candy Lee & the Sweets, Martha Redbone Trio, Carter Sampson, Smokey & The Mirror and Cry You One. June 1, 1-3pm on the Crystal Bridges Trail, Bentonville and 5-7pm on the Frisco Trail, Fayetteville. Free and open to the public.

Summer Solstice Night at the Skyspace:Explore Skyspace with outdoor art-making and music. June 21, 6:30-10pm at Crystal Bridges. Free and open to the public.

Movement Events:

Trey McIntyre Project (TMP): SpUrban Spheres: Spontaneousgroup movement on May 13, 6:30-7:30pm at Wilson Park, Fayetteville. Free and open to the public.

Trey McIntyre Project: Nature Film & Dance: Creative conversation with TMP and screening of “The Sun Road.” May 14, 6:30-8pm at Crystal Bridges. Tickets free, online registration required at crystalbridges.org.

Trey McIntyre Project: Contemporary dance performanceas part of the 10×10 Arts Series. May 16, 8pm in Baum Walker Hall, Walton Arts Center.A pre-show Creative Conversation at 7pm and post-show After Party on the plaza will be included. Tickets are $10-25.

Tread Lightly 5K Run & 1 Mile Family Fun Walk hosted by EcoPotential NGO:Annual run to raise funds for local K-12 community projects. June 7, 8:30am at Veteran’s Park, Lake Fayetteville. Online registration $10-25.

Visual Arts Events:

Spiral Wetland:Floating wetland designed by eco-artist Stacy Levy to raise awareness and improve water quality. Ongoing at Lake Fayetteville. Free and open to the public.

Art Night Out: Inner World:  Interactive Earth Day celebration. April 26, 8pm-11pm at Crystal Bridges. Tickets are $16-20 and can be purchased at crystalbridges.org.

Translating Earth, Transforming Sea:  Panel Discussion on April 30, 7pm-8pm at Crystal Bridges.Tickets free, online registration required at crystalbridges.org.

Envirofountain:  Terrariums that question how ecology and technology coexist by local artists Ben Flowers, Luke Knox and Harry Scott.May 1-June 7 at 10 locations throughout Northwest Arkansas. Free and open to the public.

Translating Earth, Transforming Sea:Visual Arts Exhibit: Features national artists Shawn Bitters, Joan Hall and Laura Moriarty. Curated by Andrea Packard, this exhibit features sculptures that are inspired by geological or oceanic change. May 1 – June 21 with opening reception and curator talk on May 1, 5-7pm in Joy Pratt Markham Gallery, Walton Arts Center. Free and open to the public.

Celebrating Arts & Nature at the Fayetteville Underground: Artosphere-inspired visual arts exhibit featuring works by local artists Janis Ward, Gregory Moore, Stephen Ironside and UpStream Art, May 1-June 1. Opening reception, as part of First Thursday, on May 1, 5-8:30pm at the Fayetteville Underground. Free and open to the public.

Synesthesia: Scent and audio installation by artist and natural perfumer, Jill McKeever. May 16-June 7. Opening reception and installation talk on May 16, 6:30pm in McBride Studio, Walton Arts Center. Free and open to the public.

Synesthesia Workshop: Artist Jill McKeever will guide participants through an exploration of sounds and smells May 17, 10am-12pm at McBride Studio, Walton Arts Center. Tickets are $10.

UpStream Art Reception and Downtown Walking Tour:In conjunction with Trail Mix, a chance to view the storm drain art.June 1, 3-5pm starting at the Fayetteville Underground. Free and open to the public.

Artosphere Street Art:Irish street artist, Al Maser, will create disruptive urban art installations from May 18-June 1 on the Frisco Trail, Fayetteville. Free and open to the public.

Working Earthworks: How Art Can Take on Function:Eco-artist Stacy Levy will talk about the School Avenue Streetscape and Spiral Wetland projects May 22, 6:30-8:30pm in Joy Pratt Markham Gallery, Walton Arts Center. Free and open to the public.

Music Events:

Chapel Music Series: This series includes intimate evenings in sacred spaces. Tickets are $10.

Shannon Wurst: May 20 at 6:30pm at Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs

Cry You One: May 29, 6:30pm at Cooper Chapel in Bella Vista

The Dover Quartet: May 30, 6:30pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville

The Dover Quartet: June 3, 6:30pm at Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs

Artosphere Local Music Series:  Enjoy dinner and live, local music on Fridays and Saturdays May 1-June 1 at Greenhouse Grille, Fayetteville.

Still on the Hill: History Beaver Lake Concert:Local favorites, folk duo will perform a concert on May 27, 7pm in Starr Theater, Walton Arts Center. Free and open to the public.

Artosphere Tiny Concerts: AFO musicians will perform in restaurants, coffee shops and gathering places. Free and open to the public.Tiny Concerts on May 29, 6-8pm on the Bentonville Square. Tiny Concerts on June 5, 6-10pm in Dickson Street Entertainment District.

Artosphere Festival Orchestra: Comprised of 80 musicians from ensembles, orchestras and music programs around the world under the baton of internationally acclaimed Music Director, Corrado Rovaris.

Mozart in the Museum featuring Marie Tachouet, flute:Live radio broadcast on May 28, 8pm at Crystal Bridges. Tickets are $40.

American Crossroads: Copeland Higdon and Brubeckfeaturing Time for Three: May 31, 8pm Walton Arts Center. Tickets $10-25.

AFO Finale: Scandinavian Masterworks:Grieg and Sibeliusfeaturing Kyu Yeon Kim, piano on June 6, 7pm at Walton Arts Center. Tickets $10-$25.

(PHOTO COURTESY OF WALTON ARTS CENTER)