Get Drawn to Art on Main

The 8th annual Art on Main in downtown Jenks will be held Saturday, October 8.

The spotlight is on some of Oklahoma’s best creative talent at the 8th annual Art on Main, to be held Saturday, October 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This large outdoor family-friendly festival is hosted by the Jenks Chamber of Commerce. For one day, the entire downtown district will be transformed into a ­cultural arts fair with shopping, fine artwork, music, festival food and wine tasting.

A juried panel selected over 100 artists to display and offer their fine art for sale. Mediums include pottery, oil paintings, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, drawings, glass, mixed media, watercolors, fiber, photography, metal smith, woodcarving and more. Art on Main stands out from other shows by giving the audience a rare opportunity to meet the artists, get to know the stories behind some of their works, and purchase custom pieces directly from the people who created them. This ­signature art show seeks to ­create access to a broad array of arts experiences, nurture the development and understanding of diverse art forms and cultures, and ­encourage the expanding depth and breadth of cultural life in Oklahoma.

According to Jenks Chamber of Commerce President Josh Driskell, ­customers line up long before the 10 a.m. opening to get the best selections and first dibs on many one-of-a-kind items. It’s not unusual for regulars to do most of their Christmas ­shopping that day. Prices range anywhere from $5 to $1,000 or more.

This year’s food lineup includes Two Feathers Concessions and K & M Consessions. Samples of Oklahoma wines from StableRidge Winery, Tidal School Vineyards, Woods and Waters Winery, and Summerside Vineyards will also be available.

Headlining the musical entertainment is Grady Nichols, who has appeared at Art on Main as the headliner in ­previous years. Grady Nichols is an ­internationally known smooth jazz saxophonist with radio ­airplay and a dynamic stage show. Other local musicians will be on the AEP-PSO stage throughout the day.

Art on Main features a large children’s area. Several local churches will assist in the supervised area, where kids will have their own art exhibit for ages 6 and up, make-and-take projects, washable tattoos, face painting, and large inflatables to bounce and play on while parents shop.

“The people of Jenks all pull together to make this a successful event,” says Josh. The Jenks police and fire departments keep families safe and traffic moving smoothly around the expanded festival area. Main Street will be closed from the railroad tracks to 3rd Street, making it accessible from all directions.

The Boy Scouts provide a unique service that vendors say they find nowhere else. Scouts assist all vendors with setting up and taking down their booths, often carting heavy loads with a friendly conversation and a smile.

This type of drawing ­together of people in the ­community earned Art on Main the 2009 Outstanding Community Initiative Award, presented by the Oklahoma Community Institute. Since then word has traveled throughout the state that Art on Main is a happening venue. As many as 15,000 people, the largest crowd ever, are expected.

There is no admission charge. Families are welcome to just sit and enjoy the scene ­without spending any money.

Community sponsors for this year’s event include ­AEP-PSO and Tulsa Winch Group.

Art on Main begins at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 8. For more information, contact the Jenks Chamber of Commerce at (918) 299-5005 or eat0@eau0eav0eaw0.

 

For more information, contact

Art on Main

(918) 299-5005

eat0@eau0eav0eaw0