If you’ve visited Commercial Street lately, you may have noticed mysterious black banners — featuring an abstract eyeball and the date Sept. 18 — hanging from light poles. And after two years of preparations, the event behind the banner is finally unveiling.
The banners were hung as a teaser campaign for C-Art, a new, ongoing art event coming to Commercial Street this fall. The first free, family-friendly event is Sunday, Sept. 18 from 1-4 p.m.
Twenty Springfield artists are participating in the event, showcasing their works inside 14 different businesses on Commercial Street:
- Randy Bacon, Heidi Herman and John Rutkowski at Randy Bacon Photography Studio and Gallery
- Victoria Henderson at Big Momma’s
- Rashod Taylor at Q Enoteca
- Kate Baird at Eurasia
- Kathleen Day at Historic Firehouse
- J.M. Warren and Annie Campbell at Skin Wax Ink
- Debra McCamish at The Coven
- Mariah Howard at The GLO Center
- Michelle Houghton and Belinda Jensen Wood at Light Box
- Neletha Fuemmeler and Ramona Pieron at Footbridge Trading Company
- Lura Faye Cotton at MosiacaRose
- R.T. Lindsey at NForm
- Michael Stelzer at Vecino Group and Do Good Lawn
- Linda Passeri and Mary Passeri at 303 East Commercial
Heidi Herman, co-director of C-Art, described the event as an “art stroll.” Folks can view a variety of art mediums inside different businesses, including art galleries, restaurants and shops. The businesses hosting artwork will be indicated with balloons outside their front doors.
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In addition to the indoor art gallery presentations, The Shandies, a folk-pop duo, will perform at White River Brewing Company and the Feedback School of Music will perform at the Jefferson Avenue Foot Bridge plaza.
Herman, her husband Randy Bacon and about 10 other artists who live and work along Commercial Street, make up C-Art’s founding board. Herman and Bacon moved Randy Bacon Photography Studio and Gallery to Commercial Street in July 2020. Herman said she has been excited to work alongside the artists who have made up the Commercial Street community for the last several decades.
As for the future of C-Art, Herman and Bacon said they anticipate it to be a seasonal event, held about two or three times each year. Bacon said they opted for this model, as opposed to monthly events, to allow the organizers to better prepare for each event and give the community enough time to digest the art they experienced.
“With each event, having that little bit more time, each one will be fresh and maybe a step up from the previous,” Bacon said. “It really shakes things up, so people are like, ‘I have to come back.’ And then they come and it’s like, ‘Wow, that’s really exciting.'”
For Herman, Bacon and the other event founders, C-Art is about community, providing the space for artists to showcase their work and bringing others in to experience it.
“With C-Art, we really see the ability of art to connect people,” Bacon said. “Considering the last two and a half years we’ve been through, now is the biggest, important time to connect community. We want Springfield to get more and more recognition as an art mecca, an art destination. We want to be on that list. ‘Oh Springfield, that’s an art city.'”
For event updates, follow C-Art on Instagram @c_art_commercial_street or visit the C-Art Facebook Event page at fb.me/e/2cvNJw6ez.
How can artists submit to C-Art?
When she began brainstorming how C-Art would function a few years ago, Herman began an artist registry to document local artists. Herman describes the registry as a “living, breathing document” that will grow with the community.
Once added to the artist registry, C-Art venues may contact the artist to show work in the business.
To be included in C-Art’s artist registry, submit the following materials to art@historiccstreet.com:
- 3-4 images of your artwork
- Preferred contact information
- Brief description of you and your work
- Website and social media links
- If you have shown work at any Springfield locations, indicate these
Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com
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