ARTapalooza showcases artwork, music and activities in downtown Cedar Falls (2024)

CEDAR FALLS — For sculptor Brian Hayes, ARTapalooza is as much a social event as it is an opportunity to display and sell his work.

The 18th annual event takes place Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Cedar Falls, hosted by Cedar Falls Community Main Street. Admission is free.

“Everyone passes through and stops to visit,” said Hayes of Cedar Falls, who creates graceful stone-and-copper outdoor sculptures, including herons and other shore birds and fish. This is his fifth year at the popular outdoor festival.

“It’s nice because my whole family comes – four kids and all the grandkids. I visit with friends and neighbors and people who come out for Artapalooza year after year.”

A retiree and former woodcarver, Hayes spends his days – and some long evenings – working in his studio. His pieces incorporate stone and minerals from around the world, including clear quartz and Brazilian sodalite.

“You won’t find two of the same pieces in my work. Each is unique, and all the pieces have a name and number. I don’t treat the copper because I like the way it looks as it ages,” Hayes explained.

Hayes’ work will be displayed in one of about 50 booths featuring juried artwork by local and regional artists, representing painting, jewelry, drawing, photography, ceramics, sculpture, fiber, wood, metal and mixed media. Booths will be arranged down the center of Main Street from First to Fifth streets.

“People are happy to meander through the art and visit with the artists, wander into the stores and enjoy the fun,” said Kassidy Tessendorf, event and promotion coordinator for Cedar Falls Community Main Street.

CFCMS Executive Director Kim Bear appreciates the street fair atmosphere.

“It’s truly my favorite event. It’s family-friendly and fun with lots of art, music and entertainment. There’s neighborhood feeling with friends stopping to chat, visiting with arts and enjoying Sunday’s slower pace,” she said.

Printmaker, abstract painter and muralist Jonathan Purdy has spent the last three months “locked in a house I bought to repair, working on the house and preparing artwork, framing prints and preparing for ARTapalooza.”

The UNI art graduate recently returned to Cedar Falls after serving as Horizons Drive Business Improvement District executive director in Grand Junction, Colorado. He earned his master of arts degree at the University of South Dakota, where he also taught. It’s been eight years since he participated in ARTapalooza.

“I’ll have about 50 framed prints of all sizes and a dozen or so paintings,” Purdy said, in addition to a 5x8 mural canvas that the public can participate in painting.

“What I love about this kind of community project is that it pulls people into participating in the arts and being hands-on involved in the creation of art. I encourage people to take pictures of what they’ve done on the mural. If it’s only two brushstrokes, then claim ownership because you showed up,” Purdy explained.

“Artists put their hearts and souls into their work. It’s fun to talk to them a little bit about their work,” said Shelby Myler, who is in her second year as a block captain at ARTapalooza.

Entertainment at Cup of Joe in the 100 block of Main Street begins at 9 a.m. with Rick Vanderwall and Colin Simpson, followed at 10:15 a.m. by Byran Sink; and 11:30 a.m. by Bad News, a University of Northern Iowa jazz group.

At Third and Main streets, Just A Bit Outside performs at 11 a.m.; Adalynn Budke at 12:45 p.m. and Suzuki School of Music at 2:30 p.m. The Nitpickers will perform at Fourth and Main streets at 11:45 p.m., followed at 2 p.m. by Ron & Isaac Morlan with Grace Braun.

Kids’ activities are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring the Hearst Center for the Arts, UNI Panther Booth and face painting. The Girl Scouts will have activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.