Creative Callbacks: Natural State Performing Arts

Creative Callbacks: Mend It, Darn It

Now in its third year, the Creative Exchange Fund, administered by The Medium in downtown Springdale, supports local artists by providing financial support and a space to take creative risks. KUAF is partnering with The Medium to profile some of this year's 37 multidisciplinary artists. We'll hear about their art, their process, and what it means to be a creative in northwest Arkansas right now. Jessica Robin is the founder of Mend It, Darn It [https://www.instagram.com/threadies_make_and_sew/], a free monthly meetup created for attendees to revive clothing items with provided supplies and expert guidance. Robin grew up in Northwest Arkansas and has been sewing for over 20 years, spending time at the University of Arkansas Theatre Costume Department and at Interform before it dissolved last year. She says the end of Interform prompted her to want to create a space like Mend It, Darn It for community members who want to work on their craft or just give clothing items a second life.

Creative Callbacks: Natural State Performing Arts

Now in its third year, the Creative Exchange Fund, administered by The Medium in downtown Springdale, supports local artists by providing financial support and a space to take creative risks. KUAF is partnering with The Medium to profile some of this year's 37 multidisciplinary artists. We'll hear about their art, their process, and what it means to be a creative in northwest Arkansas right now. Caitlyn Sullins is the founder and director of Natural State Performing Arts [https://www.naturalstateperformingarts.com], a dance school in Bella Vista. The school is hosting a dance festival this week titled Space Exploration. She says the event is meant to showcase the work that Natural State Performing Arts is already doing for the dance community throughout northwest Arkansas.

Creative Callbacks: Joel Darling

Now in its third year, the Creative Exchange Fund [https://themedium.art/cxf/], administered by The Medium in downtown Springdale, supports local artists by providing financial support and a space to take creative risks. KUAF is partnering with The Medium to profile some of this year’s 37 multidisciplinary artists. We’ll hear about their art, their process, and what it means to be a creative in northwest Arkansas right now. Joel Darling [https://themedium.art/artists/joel-darling/] discusses his work at the Medium, which was conceptualized during the COVID-19 pandemic under the moniker "Half Power".

Creative Callbacks: Katy Kane

Now in its third year, the Creative Exchange Fund, administered by The Medium [https://themedium.art/] in downtown Springdale, supports local artists by providing financial support and a space to take creative risks. Katy Kane's studio space at https://themedium.art/The Medium is full of her art — finished pieces and works in progress. She's an artist, designer and practitioner of therapeutic arts. Her work can include collage and take aim at patriarchy, or be vibrant images of tigers or cheetahs. She creates murals for homes and businesses and pet portraits, too. Katy's current project, "Art with a Cause," combines painting, collage, origami and original interviews. Here, in her own words, more about her and her art — including the attraction of assembling collage.

Creative Callbacks: NWA Fat Fashion Show

Now in its third year, the Creative Exchange Fund, administered by The Medium in downtown Springdale, supports local artists by providing financial support and a space to take creative risks. KUAF is partnering with The Medium to profile some of this year’s 37 multidisciplinary artists. We’ll hear about their art, their process, and what it means to be a creative in northwest Arkansas right now. Katie Fitzwilson and Annalise Robins are the producers of the Northwest Arkansas Fat Fashion Show, and discuss the event with Ozarks at Large's Sophia Nourani.