It’s that time of year. The artists are coming and they’re flocking to our riverbank, August 13-16th. This year’s Yukon Riverside Arts Festival begins Thursday, August 13th, with the opening of the KIAC members’ exhibit, held at SOVA at 5:30 pm, followed by a talk at 7 pm, in the KIAC ballroom, featuring the Natural & Manufactured artists, Colin Lyons and Kevin Murphy. At 8:30 pm the Gallery Hop begins, opening up the city to the work of local artists and businesses. Then at 11 pm all are invited to Bombay Peggy’s to celebrate the end of the hop and the start of the festival.
This festival began over a decade ago, as a way to showcase the work of artists and to give festival participants insight into the unique process involved in creating work across mediums. At the Artist Demonstration tent, people can see artists at work and, for a small fee to cover the cost of mediums, are able to interact with the artists to create their own pieces of art. This year’s demo tent will be at the Riverside Park on Front St (between the Artist Market and the Gazebo) Saturday Aug 15, 1-5pm & Sunday Aug 16 12-4pm. For kids the demo tent will host a Prehistoric Puppet making workshop Friday, August 14th from 1-3pm, and on Saturday, August 15th at 10:30 am the children will meet at the tent to prepare their procession in the 12 pm parade.
This festival is the kind of event that infuses color in an already energetic Discovery Days celebration. There will be an Art Auction & Performance event Saturday night at KIAC, the 4th edition of the Dawson Daily News Print & Publishing Symposium Saturday & Sunday 1-6 pm, many gallery openings, lectures, music events and a bustling Art Market all-weekend long. If that weren’t enough, you will also notice a new addition to the Dome: a Plexiglas machine that takes trailing relics and restores them to their rust-free state. N & M artist, Colin Lyons, will be found living in this structure all week long with bus tours, by Husky Bus, visiting the installation Thursday & Friday at 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm, and 2 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
The festival, now entering its 15th year, is one to be remembered by both locals and weekend visitors. For the digital program click here or drop by the Artist Market, SOVA or Visitors Information Centre on the festival weekend to pick up a festival program.