The South Arkansas Arts Center is inviting the community to be a part of its sixth annual 5x5 Art Dash on Wednesday, May 5.
This year, due to social distancing precautions, SAAC is going to Zoom instead of hosting a live dash. Beginning at 5 p.m. on May 5, ticket holders will be able to go online in a Zoom Party to choose a piece of 5x5 art which has been donated by a local or regional artist.
Each ticket holder will be randomly assigned a number to select an artwork. With only 60 tickets available, this is the most exclusive event hosted by SAAC each year, and tickets go quickly, but everyone is invited to view the work while it is on exhibit in the Lobby Gallery for a three day preview, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning May 3 and running through May 5, when the live Art Dash Zoom Party begins.
During the Zoom event, ticket holders will be called upon in order. They will get to see all of the 5×5’s live and ask questions if they want, expect for who the artist is.
Ticket holders must be present - on their phone, computer, or iPad - in the Zoom Party in order to select their painting. Anyone who does not attend the live Zoom event will be allowed to select a piece after the live event has ended. SAAC will email specific instructions the week of the event.
Visit the Lobby Gallery and SAAC’s Facebook page to see photos of the 5×5’s as they come in. Watch for a special “share” of a margarita punch recipe and other Cinco de Mayo treats.
Kelly Campbell, who organizes the event each year, said, “I love so many of the events we have here at SAAC, but I must confess that this is my most favorite. It’s always so much fun! Bruce Coffey from East Camden and Highland Railroad has sponsored this event from the very beginning, and I can’t say ‘thank you’ enough to Mr. Coffey. And the artists! At this point, we have so many wonderful artists who are willing to donate the artwork to us that we’ve started alternating the years that most of them contribute.”
Artists creating a 5x5 piece of artwork for the Art Dash fundraiser are Kathy Bowles Adcock, Susan Barnes, Sandy Bennett, Kendal Blanchard, Jordan Bolling, Cherie Bright, Rudy Bright, Liz Butler, Kelly Campbell, Joan Coffey, Emma Corteville, Jennifer Corteville, Melinda Dodson, Treasa Evans, Gary Hall, Annaleigh Harper, Katie Harwell, Pam Hays, Katy Hayes, Rex Hayes, Rhonda Hicks, Nikki Hollis, April Hoover, Beth Hubbert, Tena Hughes, Missy Inman, Gaby Juarez, Morgan Kazanovicz, Brenda Keech, John Keech, Nancy Rae Kinard, Katie King, Helene Lambert, Ella Langridge, Tony Lewis, Patricia Lowery, Becki Lusk, Nicole McPhate, Mike Means, Sarah E. Merkle, Selene Mondragon, Margy Merkle Niel, Ann Palculict, Lee Scroggins, Bobbi Shepherd, Liz Slater, Jerri Beth Smith, Cindy Snelson, Doug Stanton, Jordan Stinson, Chris Stone, Christine Street, Marla Tomlinson, Ann Trimble, Pam Vernon, Jorge Villegas, Maria Villegas, Steven Wall, Paul Waschka, Hayden White, Ann Wilson and Michaela Wise.
East Camden and Highland Railroad have again agreed to sponsor the Art Dash.
For more information on the 5x5 Art Dash, call the SAAC office at 870-862-5474 or visit saac-arts.org. SAAC is located at 110 E. 5th St. in El Dorado.