Corning gears up: Arts and Cars weekend includes variety of events

CORNING, Jul 23, 2008 (The Creston News Advertiser - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- GLW | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Corning is going to be revved up this weekend for the annual "Arts and Cars -- It's a Gas" celebration.

"This is a busy weekend, but it's so much fun," said Donna Hogan, who is a co-coordinator for Arts and Cars.

Cars and other vehicles come into play for several of the weekend's events, while art plays the biggest role in others.

One event, the Art Car and Contraption show, combines the two.

"It's art on wheels," said Linda Shearer, board president of Corning Center for the Fine Arts. "It's a car show, essentially, and it's amazing what people can come up with to create these works of art."

Anything on wheels that has been painted, decorated, embellished or enhanced with paint and/or incredible everyday objects qualifies as a car or contraption for the show.

Hogan said she's estimating at least 20 cars will show up for the Art Car and Contraption show. Last year, a big hit was the car covered in freshly-sheared sheep's' wool, which "you could smell coming, although it wasn't really that bad," Hogan said.

Another town favorite is Okey Vernon First National Bank's piggy bank car -- a bright pink art car with a snout, ears and curly tail.

Art

Shearer is especially looking forward to another event during Arts and Cars -- the third-annual En Plein Air, an event in which artists paint outside throughout Corning.

"I'd encourage people to come out and talk to the artists as they work," said Shearer. "That's what this is about, and they're really friendly. It can be so neat to see their work in progress, and then see it again when it's done."

Artists work all day Friday and Saturday, rain or shine, then submit two paintings for judging. The two pieces submitted must have been completed entirely during En Plein Air.

"It's neat to see what they can accomplish in that time," said Shearer. "Some artists have a fear of doing En Plein Air because it's a short timeframe, and they have to be able to paint in the moment. But, often, the paintings are truly amazing."

Judging will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday while Corning Center for the Fine Arts hosts a wine and beer tasting. The awards ceremony takes place at 3 p.m.

Other forms of art may be viewed, too, if visitors stop by the Corning Center for the Fine Arts Saturday. Resident Artist Rachel Sims will be demonstrating lampworking (glasswork) and silversmith jewelry art. Other artists will be demonstrating natural willow weaving techniques and pottery/ceramics.

"We just really want to see Corning become a niche for art and artists," said Hogan.

Kids

Hogan, Shearer and Sims all said Arts and Cars is good family entertainment.

"It's all about the kids," said Sims.

There are plenty of events for young artists and car fans throughout the weekend. For example, children can participate in a youth version of En Plein Air if they'd like, with easels set up in downtown Corning. They can also join the street painting contest, hear story telling at the library, check out a puppet show and workshop or play a variety of games just for kids.

Food

Of course, Corning isn't missing out on another widely appreciated art form -- the art of barbecue.

Asked which event they wouldn't miss for anything, Hogan said seeing the art cars, Shearer said talking to the artists, and Sims started to laugh.

"I enjoy mixing with the artists," she said. "But I absolutely wouldn't miss the barbecue. I was here last year, and it was so good."

Teams can participate in the "Car-B-Que" beginning Friday night. Judging will be held Saturday at 10:15 a.m. for the pork butt and 10:45 a.m. for the beef brisket. Then, everyone is invited to join in the meal beginning at 11:30 a.m. in Central Park.

"That meal is worth the trip by itself," said Sims.

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Jasmynne Sloan can be reached at

(641) 782-2141 ext. 236

or jsloan@crestonnews.com

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For more information and registration for these events and others listed in the schedule of events, go online to www.corningfinearts.org or www.adamscountyiowa.com.

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Arts and Cars -- It's a Gas

Schedule of events

Friday

Dawn to dusk -- En Plein Air

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- Kids easel painting

Saturday

Dawn to 2 p.m. -- En Plein Air

7 to 10 a.m. -- Rotary pancake feed

7:30 a.m. -- Doctor's Dash

8 to 10 a.m. -- Farmer's market

9 a.m. -- Storytelling (4-year-olds and up)

9 to 11 a.m. -- Street painting contest

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- American Legion classic car show

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- Art Car and Contraption show

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. --Touch a Truck

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- Youth games and inflatables

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- Johnny Carson birthplace tours

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- Kids easel painting

10:15 a.m. -- Car-B-Que pork judging

10:45 a.m. -- Car-B-Que beef judging

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Adams County Speedway drivers "meet and greet"

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Car-B-Que meal

TBA -- Puppet show

TBA -- Puppet workshop

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. -- Wine and beer tasting

2 p.m. -- Classic car show awards

3 p.m. -- En Plein Air awards

4 p.m. -- Art car and contraption show awards

7 p.m. -- Adams County Speedway races

Sunday

12:30 to 3:30 p.m. -- Joy of Watercolor class

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