By Mark Potter
FREDERICK – Some 40 original artworks and crafts will be displayed during the annual Arts n’ Action festival scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 on the Tillman County Courthouse square. It will be the first annual event to be held in Frederick since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic this spring.
Frederick Arts & Humanities Council sponsors of the event, which is a juried art show with over $5,000 in purchase awards. Awards to be presented and dollar amounts for the top three in each category include two-dimensional, $150, $100 and $75; three-dimensional, $100, $75 and $50; along with four $25 merit awards.
MANY ARTS AND CRAFTS VENDORS
Arts and crafts vendors from southwest Oklahoma include Michelle Beasley of Frederick, f lorals; Karen Caldwell of Frederick, photography, jewelry and more; Angie Ellis of Chattanooga, mixed media and jewelry; Shelly Gorrell of All Things Handmade in Chickasha, jams, jellies and more; Roger and Nancy Heap of Heap Springs in Frederick, pumpkins; Cindy Logue of Geronimo, florals; Lisa Noyola of Frederick, sewing crafts; Jenny Perry of Frederick, mosaics; Henry Poppe of Lawton, graphics, pastels and sculpture; and Mike and Patti Stapp of Frederick, knives, pens and more.
Other arts and crafts vendors include Mary Benner of Oklahoma City, mosaics and more; Mark Fuller of Midwest City, pottery; Kendall Gunter of Blanchard, woodcrafts; Primera Iglesia Bautista Youth Group, acrylics; Ron Kuykendall of Petersburg, Texas, pottery; Kenny McCage of Buzz Art in Newalla, metal work; and Susan Beth Wilhelm of Yukon, batik/watercolor.
VARIETY OF FOOD VENDORS
Food vendors will include nonprofit organizations such as Tillman County Historical Society selling ribeye steak sandwiches with chips and drink, and Operation CARE, sweet treats and coffee or water. Other food vendors include Ana Contreras, tamales; Lynn Hammack, artisan breads and rolls; Mercedes Ibarra, street tacos and drinks, Marcia Marquez, teriyaki chicken bowls; and Erma Mejia, flautas and gorditas.
ENTERTAINMENT
A wide variety of live entertainment venues will be presented throughout the day by various artists and groups including the Frederick High School Color Guard, choirs from local elementary, middle and high schools; along with students of Marcy Prescott and Kathryn Hickman, and soloists including Angel Wirries, Tatum Cole, Lauren Akin, Barrett Bell, Camryn Fatjo, Karli Olsen and Cooper Henson.
KIDS’ ZONE
BancFirst and the Frederick Arts & Humanities Council will sponsor various children’s activities along with an art contest for students in grades K-5.
Other vendors include the U.S. Census Bureau, Valir Physical Therapy and Bomber Robotics. The Tillman County Food Bank will be raffling off a TV.
“It’s going to be an outdoor event with perfect weather forecast for Saturday,” said event coordinator Cacy Caldwell. “We hope to bring some ‘normalcy’ to this crazy year we’ve had.”
Caldwell said that all booths will be spaced for Saturday’s festival as a preventive measure against COVID-19. She said that participants and visitors will be encouraged, but not required, to wear masks.
In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the Tillman County Fair Barn at 700 S. 8th Street in Frederick.