Bluff Arts Festival logo. (Courtesy of Anne Brown)
There’s a Four Corners artist, it’s just around the corner.
The Bluff Arts Festival is celebrating 20 years of supporting the arts and culture of the Four Corners with a weekend-long festival.
Starts on Thursday, October 17th and ends on Sunday, October 20th.
The Bluff Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to bring communities together to make this happen. Especially those who live in Bluff and the nearby Navajo Nation, said Anne Brown, a volunteer at the festival.
Traditionally, Thursday nights begin with a reading on the banks of the San Juan River.
The Desert Writer, who received a $5,000 annual award from the Ellen Malloy Foundation, begins each year by sharing what she has written. From there, people share personal poems and stories in an open mic style.
“It’s one of those things that lasts all night,” Brown said.
But in June of this year, the Bluff lost much of its riverfront shoreline to flash flooding. Additionally, this year’s recipient lives in North Carolina and was unable to receive the award due to the damage caused by Hurricane Helen.
So while kickoff may look a little different than years past, the weekend still begins with storytelling at Recapture Lodge on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
On Friday, from morning until afternoon, a variety of workshops will be open to the public, including creative writing by award-winning artists, basket weaving, jewelry making, and painting, at varying prices.
From 1pm to 5pm that day, people can take part in the Art Walk, wandering from individual studios to trading posts to galleries to view art by Four Corners artists.
“My favorite part is the film festival,” Brown said.
It’s free and can be enjoyed on a large outdoor drive-in style movie screen. Brown said people can bring in chairs and watches from their cars. Friday night, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Bluff Community Center.
All seven films are connected to the Four Corners region in some way, whether they are about the region or produced by local filmmakers and writers.
“Enjoy a great movie night,” Brown said. “There’s quite a variety.”
Just before the film, all past volunteers will be recognized in recognition of the 20-year milestone.
“That’s half the town,” Brown said with a laugh.
The Artist Market is Saturday, with more than 30 vendors selling their work from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More workshops will be held that morning, and later that evening from 6:30pm there will be live music in the community center.
On Sunday, the last day of the festival, two workshops will be held starting at 9am.
The session concludes with a reading of the book. Scott Graham will read at 10:30 a.m., Pam Houston will read at 2 p.m., and she will be joined by singing and songwriting duo The Montbarres.
“There are a lot of activities, but they all take place outdoors,” Brown said. “It’ll be a lot of fun.”
For more information, visit the website bluffartsfestival.org.
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