Published Sunday, June 12, 2005
Art Walk enhances Ozark's atmosphere
By Didi Tang
News-Leader
Ozark — It's a small program, but the city's fledgling Art Walk could be significant."Little towns are expanding in arts," said Betty Gentry, a Marshfield resident who attended Ozark's second Spring Art Walk on Saturday. " Everything is coming back."
The city is investing hundreds of thousands of dollars to revamp sidewalks and streetlights in the once-neglected downtown area, and property owners are sprucing up buildings on the square. Loft dwellers are moving in.
So community leaders feel it is time to introduce art to the square.
"This allows local artists to participate and gives them a chance to display their work with a historic background," said Robert Snook, director of Ozark Main Street.
"Secondly, we're trying to draw more people to the downtown are to see the changes."
In May, the group held the first Saturday Art Walk. About a dozen artists came, and the event drew 600 to 700 people in four hours.
"That was more than what I expected," Snook said.
Saturday's second effort had to contend with weather that sent artists indoors and several visitors back home shortly after the event began at noon.
But those who stayed or came after the skies cleared enjoyed cool weather, live music and that's with a handful of artists.
"It's unique." said Kim Anderson of Kansas City, who was browsing through photographs by Josh Mitchell with her husband, Don, and their 9-month old son, Bryce, in a stroller.
"It's not overwhelming," she said.
"Not too much to look," added Don Anderson. "Small-town makes it nice."
The casual atmosphere also appealed to Sheila Russell of Marshfield.
It is not too daunting for amateur or beginning artists to display their works, she said.
And Gentry noted Marshfield plans to host a similar event in the fall. "This is a fantastic idea," Gentry said.
For Mitchell, an art walk in a small town provides a chance to experience the old time.
"This is an opportunity to step out of the city and into the way small towns used to be," the Springfield artist said. "We can feel our grandparents."
REVITALIZATION
Like Springfield, Ozark hopes to revitalize its downtown.
Snook, who once worked in the state office building in downtown Springfield, knows how art, food and shops can breathe life into a once-lifeless district.
He is hopping the same approach will work for Ozark.
Saturday Art Walk, which will return in the fall, is expected to become the Ozark version of First Friday, a popular monthly art event in downtown Springfield, Snook said.
Meanwhile, a bluegrass band will be playing every Thursday evening in downtown Ozark through September, he said. And he hopes upscale restaurants will come to Ozark.
"Good food draws people to downtown," he said.
It's very likely, said Bill Macier, who is planning to restore a 100-year-old building on the square.
Once renovated, the building is expected to house fine restaurants, and the interest has been "more than strong," Macier said.
Allen Casey, a Springfield architect, will be working with Macier to remodel the structure.
He said old buildings like Macier's generally work well to be redeveloped as restaurants because of their "fun atmosphere and urban character."
Copyright © 2005, The Springfield News-Leader, a Gannett Company.
