West M grad is the first recipient of the Linda Regula Memorial Scholarship
ZANESVILLE – The Y Bridge Arts Festival returns this weekend after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and its founder lives on the first Linda Regular Scholarship. This may interest you : July 2022 Getting Blog Error: Access & Support in Technology.
Kelsey Price, who recently graduated from West Muskingum High School, was the first winner of the $2,000 Art Within Us Linda Regula Memorial Scholarship. She is headed to Columbus College of Art and Design to major in comics and narrative practices.
“It’s a mix of their illustration major, but also has writing,” she said of her new major. “It’s more literature based, the process of writing comic books or graphic novels.” She was inspired to tackle the major by discovering the graphic novel “Fun Home”. It was made into a musical, which was how she discovered it. “That would be my dream, to write a graphic novel that is turned into a musical,” she said.
Kelsey drew her first comic book when she was barely school age, her father Tracey said. It was called “Super Sharck,” he said, and went to probably 20 volumes.
“You’re always trying to find ways to entertain your kids,” Tracey said. “With her it was easy, blank paper and crayons.” Crayons became colored pencils, watercolors, and markers as Kelsey expanded her interest in art. “She just got on with it,” he said.
Kelsey is one of more than 50 artists featured at this year’s Y-Bridge Arts Festival, which returns to Zane’s Landing on Friday and Saturday.
This year’s festival includes many different art forms.
“We really want to open it up to everyone,” said Kristen Brown, president of Zanesville’s Art Colony. “The arts are not just painting, it’s music, it’s dance, it’s theater.
“We have so many different types of artists, we have painting, glass making, clay, metal and sculpture.”
Some of the artists have been part of the festival before, Brown said, but there are also many first-time participants.
The festival will include live music on both days.
On Friday, Allison Road will perform from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Ashley Martin will perform from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday will feature Double Deuce with Evan Abood from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., and Popgun from 9 to 10:30 p.m.
Several food trucks will also be available, including Louisiana Grill, Kona Ice, Le Macaron, Rowdy Dawgs, Fat Boy’s Grill, Lemon Shakeups and Domino’s Pizza. Beer will be available from local and national breweries.
In addition to enjoying the art on display and for sale, there are many activities available for all ages, Brown said. “There are dance and art activities for adults and children, and an open mic with Steve Spiers so local musicians can share their talent.”
Brown said she is excited that Movement on Main dance studio will be performing during the festival.
After its two-year hiatus, “It’s really great to get everyone together and work on it,” Brown said. “We want everyone to feel welcome and part of the arts community.”
Artists who once worked in the Masonic Temple have spread since the January fire destroyed the building.
“Things were more spread out, but people realized there were so many things going on around town, it brought people together and helped us get back on our feet.”
Traditionally held in early August, this year’s festival has been moved to the final weekend of July to allow Friday Art Walk next week. “It’s two weeks of art downtown,” Brown said.
Seeing the first Linda Regula scholarship awarded was also rewarding. “It feels really good. She was such a wonderful person, and a really great supporter of the arts.”
The festival runs from 2 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, at Zane’s Landing Park. It runs from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. saturday
