First Friday, Finster Fest, and Art All Around Us

First Friday

Sept. 5 at Moon Lake Campus • 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (new fall hours)

September with music, food, and shopping after hours! If you haven’t explored Moon Lake Campus yet, this is the perfect opportunity. The evening has an open-house feel that will make you want to return again and again. Discover Faith & Mustard Seed, Cloudland Framing, Coming Up Violets, OtherWorld Gifts, Sacred Earth Studio, The Gallery by Andiamo, Moon Lake Kitchen (serving up tasty eats and specialty cocktails), and the Little River Art Gallery. Just next door, the Moon Lake Library has cornered the market on gourmet mocktails! At the Mentone Arts Center, the Friday Pickers will be strumming until 5 p.m.

LRAC Returns to Finster Fest!

Sept. 20-21 • Paradise Gardens, Summerville, Georgia • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern • $10 Admission.

The Little River Arts Council is honored to return to Finster Fest, joining more than 70 artists at Paradise Gardens. A dozen talented artists will be featured in the LRAC tent this year: Randall Castleberry, Kelly Farley, Meg Justice, Frank Kenney, Doug & Betty Perkins, Jan & Mike Sherwood, Michele Smith, Layne Stone, Barbara Umland, Victoria Wheeler, Ed Wofford, and Mikel Yeakle. Festival goers will also be able to step inside the newly renovated World’s Folk Art Church, open to the public for the first time this year.

LRAC featured artist Erika Prater

Little River Art Gallery: Featured Artist – Erika Prater

Hailing from Oxford, Alabama, Erika Prater works primarily on the wheel, creating forms that are both functional and decorative. She enhances her pieces with subtle textures and carvings on large surfaces, finishing them with either simple glazes or spontaneous, layered glaze combinations. The result is a collection of pottery that speaks to both seasoned collectors and anyone who appreciates the beauty of handmade craft.

Aug./Sept. Make Your Mark on Mentone chalk artists Blair & May Newman

Make Your Mark on Mentone:

August–September: Unity, Memory, Resilience by Blair & May Newman

“The camp flags surround Camp Mystic, circling and holding it at the heart of Mentone, and in the hearts of us all. Woven into this heart quilt is the collective love of a community bound by loss and strengthened by remembrance.” Blair & May invited the community to sign the mural’s support board in solidarity with Camp Mystic.

Next up: Lisa Sulkosky! The Make Your Mark on Mentone mural project is located on the grounds of the Mentone Inn, at the corner of AL Hwy 117 & CR 89, right at the flashing light. This project is made possible by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Monster Mash Member’s Social

Thursday, Oct. 30 • 5 to 7 p.m. at Moon Lake Campus

Get ready for a spooky new twist on LRAC’s annual Member’s Social! Costumes are encouraged — spooky, silly, or “so-fisticated” — with prizes awarded for the best looks. This gathering is the perfect chance to connect with fellow art lovers, hear the latest LRAC updates, and maybe even renew your membership. Expect good food, good friends, and good ghouls!

Coming soon: the Moon Lake Arts Collective!

Have you heard about LRAC’s latest project? The Moon Lake Arts Collective will be Mentone’s first public-access pottery studio and will also feature a flexible space for a variety of art classes. Visitors can enjoy “Make Your Own” experiences and leave with a one-of-a-kind Mentone memory, while local artists will benefit from pottery guild memberships, giving them a creative home without the heavy cost of equipment.

At LRAC, “We Believe Art is for Everyone.” That’s why artists will have the option to exchange volunteer hours for studio time. The collective will serve as a vibrant hub for creativity, learning, and connection, bringing together artists and community groups alike. If this vision excites you, we invite you to help make it a reality. Visit the Moon Lake Arts Collective tab at www.littleriverartscouncil.org to learn more and become a recognized contributor to this inspiring project.