The third annual Art Mart took place at CSPS (Czech and Slovak Prudential Society) Hall on Saturday August 22nd from 10:00AM-6:00PM. The event (which was started to help local up and coming artists display their work) featured 19 vendors. The event was organized by CSPS Hall’s Digital Marketing coordinator Carmen Johnson. CSPS Hall hosts concerts, art galleries, and art auctions throughout the year. Over the years musicians such as John Fahey, Joan Baez and Odetta have performed there. They have also shown the gallery works of artists such as Yoko Ono, and Andres Serrano. Beginning at 6:00PM on Thursday the 27th CSPS Hall will be hosting the Faces of Unity art gallery by artist Tharren Keith.
Jenny Lemke from Cedar Rapids draws a flower on a rock while visiting CSPS Hall for the first time on Saturday August 22nd. CSPS began in the 1988 as an independent performance art company helmed by Mel Adringa and F John Herbert.
Kim Laughridge purchases some jewelry from Green Cat Press owner Eli Madsen while visiting CSPS Hall for the first time. Madsen has been in business for five years, and works full time for the Cedar Rapids school district.
James Bass from Iowa City tells a potential customer about one of his pastel drawings while participating in CSPS Hall’s Art Mart as a vendor on Saturday August 22nd. Bass enjoyed drawing as a young man, and even majored in art during college. However he hadn’t drawn anything in 40 years when he picked up the art again five years ago.
Randy to Wear owner Randy L. Estes (also known as Wizard) speaks to a potential customer while participating in the Art Mart as a vendor. Estes will be hosting a fashion show at Ellis House at 7:00PM on October third.
CSPS co-founder Mel Andringa (center) draws pictures on post cards during Art Mart on Saturday August 22nd. Adringa and Herbert rented the building that CSPS Hall is located in from Service Press & Litho Company owner Robert G. Prucha for $550.00 per month for 20 years before the flood of 2008 after which they bought the building and spent 6 million dollars renovating it.
Abigail De Jong from Cedar Falls speaks to some potential customers about her acrylic paintings. De Jong has been doing art since she was a kid, and started her selling her paintings under the business name “Why Not Abstract” six years ago.
Photographer Karen Goodell tells an attendee of the Art Mart about her landscape and wild life photos. Goodell grew up on a farm near Williamsburg Iowa, and has been doing photography since she first started attending Hawkeye Technical College in 1980.
For inquiries about purchasing advertising space on this newsletter or any of the photos please email me at cobbwildphotography@gmail.com