Poster winner puts community energy into her Artwalk entry; Friday event to highlight 115 artists at 69 businesses
By BRANDON MACZ
inland360.com
Susan Segota had never entered her oil paintings in the Moscow Artwalk poster competition until this year and, with no formal training, had little confidence in making the cut.
“It was a really big surprise,” she said of winning. “I thought, ‘Well, the painting was kind of half done.’ ”
A retired developmental aide for the preschool in the Moscow School District, Segota began painting as a way of relieving stress after work.
“It is pretty much all-consuming when you paint and pretty much everything else goes out of your mind,” she said.
As the name of the winning piece implies, “Dancing at the Farmers Market,” is inspired by Segota’s time at the seasonal Saturday event.
“I like farmers markets, and I like the energy that is down there,” she said. “One day I just sat there and watched. Everybody just kind of grooved to the music and the children. I tried to represent every age group, and the kids in the middle are my grandkids. I just wanted to have the painting reflect the energy of downtown and the diversity.”
Oil painting is a time-consuming process, and her winning piece took two months to complete.
“In oils you paint in layers, and you have to wait for one layer to dry before you do the next, Segota said. “I really like to put a lot of detail in my paintings, so it’s a lot of layers.”
Segota will be at Moscow City Hall 5-7 p.m. Friday handing out signed posters of her piece and showing several of her other art works.
“I want everyone to enjoy them and everyone to take them home,” she said. “I always thought, ‘Wow, you could take the poster and cut around it and frame it.’ ”
That should give her time to check out other pieces by 115 artists on display at 69 businesses in the downtown area.
“I’m hoping to do both,” said Segota. “I’d love to see what everybody else is doing, and you can get inspired by looking at the energy and the flavor of what everybody else is doing.”
Artwalk starts at 3 p.m. with the unveiling of “Helio Terra,” the city art project created by Robert Horner. The rammed-earth seed has been curing in the Wren Welcome Garden for about a month.
Mayor Nancy Chaney will accept the piece on behalf of the city, said arts director Kathleen Burns, and Horner will give a presentation regarding his rammed-earth medium. Burns said she urges people after the unveiling to head to the city’s water department building where a barbecue is being held 3-6 p.m.
“That’s where I’m going for dinner,” she said.
For people who don’t want to wait until Friday to get their art fix, Burns said the new home decor store, Verde, in the Palouse Mall will showcase the works of watercolorist Jeanne Wallace 3-6 p.m. Thursday.
“To have their opening on Thursday makes total sense because they’re kind of out of the main downtown area,” she said, “That will be nice to pull (people) out the night before.”
The Prichard Art Gallery is expected to be a big draw again this year, said Burns, with a mixed-media event showcasing works by past-and-present University of Idaho master of fine arts students.
Charles Doodoo, an MFA student and member of the Moscow Arts Commission will show his watercolors, acrylics and mixed-media pieces at Advantage America Mortgage on East Third Street.
Demonstrations will be held on Main Street between Third and Fifth streets 3-6 p.m. with portrait drawing, chalk art, candle working and more.
The Fabulous Kingpins will be the musical headliners 8-11 p.m. Thorn Creek Express, a band of brothers from Genesee, will perform at 4 p.m., and the Hog Heaven Big Band 6-8 p.m.
Josh Heller, a southern California writer who formed a summer commune in Moscow this year, said he has five fellow transplants volunteering at Friday’s Artwalk and at the Moscow Farmers Market on Saturday morning.
“We spoke with Kathleen, and we’re going to help,” he said. “When they move the farmers market to Main Street, we’re also going to assist with that.”
The commune, which is expected to consist partly of artists using different media, does not have any members who will be showcasing their works Friday, said Heller.
“We’re just meeting and greeting,” he said. “I’m definitely really excited for ArtWalk. It looks like there’s a lot of really good energy here.”
Brandon Macz can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 238, or by email to bmacz@dnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrandonMacz.
If you go
WHAT: Artwalk 2012
WHEN: 3-11 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Main Street, downtown Moscow
COST: Free
