Police say they evacuated Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family from the official governor’s residence after someone set fire to the building. (Scripps News)
Michelle Mann Billed as a “vibrant celebration of music, art, and community,” the 4th Annual Loop Music and Arts Festival attracted thousands to the event featuring nearly 50 artists, three live demonstrating artists, and eight musical performances in downtown Dothan Friday and Saturday.
“Whether you’re dancing, collecting art, painting, or just soaking it all in—the Loop Festival is the Wiregrass region’s premier arts and music event,” said Holly Meyers, executive director of Art in Public Places, and organizer of the event. The Loop Music and Art Festival began in 2022 as grassroots all volunteer initiative. The Art in Public Places nonprofit took over organizing the event two years ago. Co-sponsored by the Dothan Civic Center and Opera House and Live at the Opera, the free-to-the-public event on South Foster and East Crawford Street was from 4 until 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday. This year more vendors, more music, and more opportunities for people to get a glimpse into Dothan’s art scene were added, Meyers said. People are also reading… Art in Public Places Established in August of last year, Art in Public Places is a Wiregrass area nonprofit, whose goal is in its name, said Meyers. “Whenever you have art outside and in a public space, it’s quite literally bringing it to you.” Focused primarily on public art projects and initiatives, APP hosts the first Friday art crawl monthly and is also working on murals and sculptures. APP has increased artist awards this year from $1,600 to $2,100 to further support and recognize outstanding artists from the region. “We have an amazing steering committee some of whom have been doing the Loop Music and Arts Festival since day one,” Meyers said. “And Art in Public Places has an amazing, hardworking board.” Art OutdoorThe first Art Outside piece debuted this weekend featuring a large-scale woven textile of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. based textile artist Nicole Hemmerly, owner of Mosshound Designs, who specializes in utilizing sustainable, recycled, and responsibly sourced materials and has created a large-scale woven textile installation. The second installment for Art Outside is planned for this summer and will feature the work of Alabama artist Aaron Sanders Head who will create a lamella structure woven with materials that have a long history of use in Alabama, a sustainable display that can also attract birdlife. A third installment is also expected in September, with artist Stacey Holloway planning to transform Dothan’s soon-to-be-completed outdoor amphitheater into a temporary sculpture gallery.For the first time this year, Art in Public Places has a Junior Board comprised of area high school juniors and seniors, offering young leaders the opportunity to contribute directly to public art projects, events, and educational programming. Friday the teens were busy helping visiting artists with unloading and setup of their exhibits. The Junior Board hosted the art education tent and manned a mural on site that gave younger artists the opportunity to show their skills. Meyers credits artist and art educator Erin Merrill with the junior board concept. Merrill said her children, now a high school senior and sophomore, have volunteered at The Loop since its inception. “The junior board has been amazing. They have been the extra hands and feet the entire two days.” Applications are now being taken for any tenth and 11th graders in high schools in the Wiregrass who is interested in serving on the all-volunteer board, Merrill said. Live Art demonstrationsArtists Amanda Hamrick, using natural dye; Charlie Mabry, using clay; and poet, Casey Roberts, provided a live look at their artistic techniques and creative processes. Roberts, who traveled from Marion, creates personalized poems from the single word the person gave him, on his antique manual typewriter. “I enjoy it because it takes poetry, which is usually a very solitary practice, and puts it into a collaborative, almost performative aspect,” said the man who said he fell in love with manual typewriters as a child, watching old movies with his great grandmother. “Theres something more tactile,” he said, adding that he has received positive responses to his craft since beginning it three years ago. Mural toursMeyers said one of the highlights of this year’s festival was the guided or self-guided historical mural tours for visitors to explore Dothan’s renowned murals. Gil Anthony led the guided the riding mural tour featuring the three music murals, the Sherman Rose, and the Dothan Riot murals. Free self-guided mural tour maps were also available. Artist winners:Judges’ Awards were also presented. The Best of Show went to Christian Hamrick. Awards of Distinction went to Charlie Mabry and Caleigh Parsons; and, Merit Awards were awarded to Bethany Bible, Abi Brewer, Alli Mcafee, Emma Steelman, Lori Stephens, and Beth White. Reactions:“Fantastic,” said Spencer, N.C., glue gun and crayon artist Mary Ellen Bennett in describing the event. She was so impressed last year that she made sure the dates for this year were on her calendar. Not only the friendliness of the people in the Circle City but the professionalism of the organizing committee and the helpfulness of the junior board made The Loop a destination she will gladly travel the distance for, she said. “It’s been fantastic,” agreed Gina Swan, who owns the 10,000 square-foot Mural City Coffee Company, Tea Bar, Espresso Bar, and Roastery with her husband, Darrin, as she watched the crowds Saturday. “Overall, we’ve had so many people seeing Mural City Coffee Company for the first time,” she said. “This has been amazing.” For more informationVisit Art Outside and Art In Public Places for information about applying for the Junior Board, and for more information on upcoming events at artinpublicplaces.art.Michelle Mann Staff Writer Follow Michelle Mann Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. 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