Thyen-Clark Cultural Center to Host Dia De Los Muertos Celebration

October has just begun, and Jasper Community Arts is already preparing for some fun and festive activities. The 4 th Annual Halloween Decorating Contest is back again this year, with an entry deadline of October 16 at midnight. Judging (within Jasper city limits) will be on the evening of October 21. October is Hispanic Heritage Month, and JCA is gearing up for Dia De Los Muertos. There will be several themed events throughout the month, including a flower- making workshop on October 11 from 6-7:30. The Dia De Los Muertos Festival will be on November 1 from 6-8 pm, in partnership with ALASI, Latinos Unidos from Jasper High, and Los Raiders from Southridge, and will be catered by Los Bravos. 

The celebration will feature face painting, food, crafts, music, Ofrenda-decorating, and plenty of entertainment for the whole family. The gallery remains busy with some exhibits closing and new installations lining the walls. The summer quilt show came to an end with several sales, and winners for of the 31st Annual Juried Art Exhibition were announced. Best of show was awarded to Christina Zimmer Robinson for her mixed media piece, Too Many Birds. The exhibit will run through November 24. The new gallery show has been installed and will run from October 3-December 26. The show features Valerie Eickmeier’s nature paintings and Cara Lee Wade’s nature photographs on aluminum. First Thursday is this week on October 3 rd from 5-7 at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, and both gallery artists will be in attendance. 

The open clay studio on Mondays and Thursdays has remained very popular and clay classes are continuing to fill with attendees. Several new classes and workshops have begun for the fall, and information is available on the Jasper Community Arts website. The first figure night was described as extremely successful, and there are 3 more sessions on the calendar. There are still spots available for Fall Break Camp Create, but online registration closes on October 7. The camp will run from 9 to noon, October 14-17, for kids ages 8-12, with a $40 fee. Some scholarships are available. If interested, please email Education Coordinator Casey Uebelhor at [email protected] or call 812-482-3070.

For more information on these and other updates, visit jasperarts.org.

- Drew Hasselbring