Alliance Calling All Artists To Register For August Art Show

By REBECCA HAZEN
News Editor

The first ever Plum Nelly Depot Art Show, presented by the Alliance for Dade’s Public Arts Committee, will be Saturday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Trenton Civic Center. The committee members are asking all local artists to register to be in the show.

“There used to be a wonderful arts festival in the Plum Nelly region, in the ’40s and ’50s. We want to pay homage to that, and we thought we would create a fictional depot, based on the depot in Trenton,” Sue Gridley, Chair of the Public Arts Committee, said about the naming of the show.

The committee members are looking for different types of artistry, including jewelry, pottery, wooden items, photography, paintings and drawings, sculpture, glass, plastic and acrylic, clothing, accessories, or textile art. The committee asks that everything is original and handmade.

“Our big message right now is a call to artists. We want to celebrate the arts heritage of this area. We have a lot of very well accomplished artists. I have met so many talented people. Trenton, Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain as a whole did not have a festival to celebrate that,” LeAnne Johnson Absalom, committee member, said. “This is also a way to bring commerce related to the arts. We want our artists to thrive.”

The event will be free for the public to attend. Committee members hope to have food vendors, and kid activities at the event as well. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Alliance for Dade.

The deadline to register is Aug. 1. If artists register sooner, there will be a discount. Alliance investors will also get a further discount. If you apply and pay by June 30, the cost is $15 for investors and $25 for non-investors. By July 20, the cost is $20 for investors and $30 for non-investors. By Aug. 1, the cost is $25 for investors and $35 for non-investors.

Non-refundable payment for display space is due upon application. The fee for display space is the same for both indoor and outdoor spaces. The indoor space will be about 10’ by 10’ and the outdoors space is 12’ by 12’. The spaces are first come, first served. More than one space can be rented. Artists can supply their own tables and chairs, or they can be rented from the Alliance for an extra fee.

“We believe that the arts reflect our people, our sense of place, and they are part of what makes us interesting to others and can bring in visitors and artists,” Gridley said.

The Alliance for Dade also welcomes all artists to join the Alliance, which is the Chamber of Commerce for Dade County. To become an investor, visit alliancefordade.com.

For more information, and to register for the Plum Nelly Depot Art Show, visit alliancefordade.com/arts-crafts-show. The art show also has a Facebook page, listed as Plum Nelly Depot sm Arts and Crafts Show.