Bluff Park Art Show
Bluff Park Art Association’s Contributions to Area Arts
Surely everyone in our area must know about the Bluff Park Art Show given the tens of thousands who attend the annual event on the first Saturday in October. Fewer may know about the other art appreciation contributions made to our community by this home grown organization. Now in its 43rd year, the Bluff Park Art Association continues to pursue its mission of promoting the arts through a variety of initiatives.
Each year at the annual show, new artwork is selected from those submitted by exhibiting artists to be added to the organization’s Permanent Collection. This collection is displayed in Hoover schools and other locations around the area on a rotating basis. Every school day finds thousands of Hoover students, K though 12 exposed to original artwork made available by the Association. Pieces from the Permanent Collection can also be found at the Hoover Public Library.
In addition to its Permanent Collection, the Bluff Park Art Association has funded other recognizable artwork around Hoover. The sculpture titled "Becoming", by Ted Metz, was given to City of Hoover and is located outside City Hall. "The Reader", by Frank Fleming, was given to the Hoover Library. A $25,000 gift to Aldridge Gardens was matched with Civic funds for a bronze sculpture "Along for the Ride" by Frank Fleming.
The Bluff Park Art Association was instrumental in bringing Dr. Shozo Sato to Hoover for a demonstration of the Japanese arts, including the traditional tea ceremony, flower arranging and Japanese theatre. The Association received three kimonos as a gift from Dr. Sato, and was pleased to share these with the Japan-America Society of Alabama at their annual dinner held at the Ross Bridge Resort in April of this year.
Each year, the Bluff Park Art Association also sponsors a scholarship for a Hoover student who plans to pursue a college degree in art.
On Saturday, October 7, the 43rd Annual Bluff Park Art Show will serve as the kick-off event for the Year of Alabama Arts. The Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel, the Alabama State Council on the Arts, and local arts organizations throughout the state have all come together for this special year.
The Bluff Park Art Association, is an all volunteer, non-profit, community based organization. Volunteers are always needed and welcome. Helping the Bluff Park Art Association through volunteer work or the purchase of art at the annual show is a great way to support the arts in our community.
More information on the Association can be found their web site, www.BluffParkArtAssociation.org
The press release for the art show can be downloaded by clicking here. You will need Acrobat Reader to view it.
