PITTSBURG, Kan. — Despite numerous events happening in the area, community members still showed up in droves to take in the sights, sounds and smells of the Pittsburg ArtWalk.
With the event landing on a Saturday this year, the spring ArtWalk had to contend with Pittsburg High School’s prom in the evening as well as The Miners Hall Museum’s "A Night in New Orleans" event. But people were able to squeeze in the creative festivities before kicking up their feet at other places. Several promgoers even made an appearance downtown at the ArtWalk before dancing the night away.
“I was a little worried about a Saturday event because we have so many things happening in Pitt,” Pittsburg Arts Council President Crista Cunningham said. “We were pleasantly surprised at the turnout! It was a joy to see our community come out to support our local artists.”
Artists and vendors lined Broadway and were also featured in ArtForms Gallery, Root and The Doggie Bag. Many artists travel from neighboring towns and cities to set up at the ArtWalk.
Morgan Strait, of Joplin, has been selling her paintings and album art at the Pittsburg ArtWalk for the past 8 years.
"I love being a part of the Pittsburg Art Walk every year because the people of Pittsburg really show up to support the event,” Strait said. “It's fun, inclusive, and there's all kinds of art there."
ArtWalk attendees enjoyed various food options, ranging from burgers to street tacos to Peruvian entrees.
Renato Pinto, whose family ran the Tumi Peruvian food truck, said they were skeptical about how their cuisine would sell during the event.
“From what we heard and saw, everyone seemed to enjoy the food,” he said. “We got so busy that it took much longer to get food out, but a lot of people said that it was ‘worth the wait.’ My parents have been in the food truck business for almost a year and the Artwalk was their highest sales day since they've started. They sold out of everything.”
Pinto said they will be back to serve their dishes on May 3 at Pittsburg State University for the Coal Miners Family Fun Day.
Performances that included fire poi, dance numbers and appearances by SEK Princesses took place at 6th and Broadway. Inside TJ Lelands, 15 writers of all ages read their poetry or fiction work to a small crowd.
Kyle Ketner, of Pittsburg, said it was his first time reading his poetry during the ArtWalk.
“I loved the sense of community that I got from sharing my work with fellow writers and from hearing their own work,” he said. “I also really enjoyed talking about creative writing in the intermissions and learning about other people’s processes.”
Diverse music from rock to jazz was highlighted in the Evergy courtyard and Europe Park in the evening hours.
Acoustic musician Seth Horn, of Pittsburg, said he was happy to be chosen to play this year.
“I absolutely adored this year's ArtWalk,” he said. “The art, the performances, the overall joyous and supportive vibes, it all makes me so proud to be from our little college town.”
The next ArtWalk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, from 3 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit pittsburgartscouncil.com.
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews
