THERMOPOLIS — The Second Friday ArtStroll in downtown Thermopolis this Friday from 5-8 p.m. will feature western artists, western art activities, live western music and refreshments. Most downtown businesses are open during the event. Several artists will be demonstrating on Still Strolling Saturday, July 9.

“Our theme for this ArtStroll celebrates our western heritage with All Things Western and we have an exciting line-up,” according to stroll organizer Toddi Darlington. “This month we have western textiles, western paintings, western cartoon drawing make it and take it activities, and we are featuring a good ol’ cup of coffee. The coffee may not be traditional cowboy coffee, but you will enjoy learning just how coffee is roasted and brewed. It’s going to be great fun!”

When you think of cowboys and western ways of living, a hot meal around a campfire comes to mind. Cowboys with tin cups full of steaming coffee. Josh Thomas with Jackrabbit Java will demonstrate the art of coffee cupping, during a coffee cupping party at Storyteller. Coffee cupping is a process to evaluate coffee’s taste: the coffee world’s equivalent to wine tasting. The art of cupping will introduce you to tasting specialty coffee from at least three different regions around the world. Thomas, as the roaster, will guide you in cupping protocol while talking to you about different flavor profiles as you examine the acidity, body, sweetness and finish unique to different cultivars of coffee. 

Three cuppings will be held Friday evening starting at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the conference room at Storyteller. 

During the coffee cupping party, stop by Jo and Larry Reed’s table (Storyteller) for this month’s Make It and Take It Art Activity. Learn how to draw western cartoon characters. Jennie Blakesley will also be on hand with her jewelry.

Cowboys love music and strollers love music. Stop by One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company to listen to western tunes played by Shawn McWilliams. As you stroll along you will also enjoy music played by Mike Howland and Harold Hutson.

One of our featured western artist is Cindy Clancy who will be at Gooseberry Garden Quilt Shop. Clancy loves antiques, so the treasures she finds becomes her next “canvas.” Considering her deep love for horses, many of her paintings center around horses or western scenes, Darlington said. Horseback riding allows Clancy to see the natural interplay of light and color and shadows. Living in Wyoming gives her great opportunities to photograph old buildings, mountain views, and beautiful scenes on horseback, inspiring some of Clancy’s favorite landscape paintings. She loves to paint barns and other scenes from everyday rural life.

Flying Eagle Gallery will have an opening reception Friday evening for western artist Angela Siems. Siems received her art education in Germany. Her father was a commercial (graphic) artist. Appreciation and love for art drove her to start painting again – after raising a family – and in spite of her active ranch life, according to Darlington. She has always loved the outdoors and especially Wyoming. Siems is a member of the Riverton Artists Guild and the Wyoming Artist Association. She works mainly in pastels and oil. Now that they have retired from ranching Siems plans to paint full time.

She has won prizes at local art shows and recently painted a large mural for the Thermopolis Rehabilitation and Care Center. Siems’s work will be on display all month at Flying Eagle Gallery.

Shooting sports is a western activity that is still enjoyed today. Cowboys got creative with their handmade decoys. Stroll by Owl Creek Graphics to see Terry Sani and the many different bird decoys and fish he has crafted out of cardboard.

The ArtStroll welcomes Mary Frix Bell. Bell recently returned home to Thermopolis after living in the Seattle area for the past 46 years. A retired RN and a retired floral designer, Bell loves to craft using many different mediums. Her current passions are organic soap making, organic skin care, candle making and crochet and working in her organic garden. She also will do custom order wreaths. Bell is happy to be back in Thermopolis and invites you to stop by and get acquainted with her style of art. Bell will be located at Needful Things this ArtStroll.

Another new artist is Jodi Bennett who will show at Nature’s Corner. Bennett lives in Worland, with her husband of 22 years — Marc and their 17-year-old son — Dane. Bennett realized that she is very close to the empty nest years, and so she dusted off the “someday list” and began following in her family’s footsteps of lathe turning. After a demonstration given by master turner Sam Angelo and help from the Worland Woodturners Bennett not only began wood turning but also discovered her love of wood burning. Maybe it was just the whiskey fumes coming out of the wood but after helping burn brands into a wood barrel, Bennett was hooked. Darlington said.

Pyrography added to wood turning was the perfect fit for her. She continues her work with Sam and Dave Morgan and has gotten to work with metal artist Dan Cook. Bennett said, “I love creating art with the Worland Woodturners, but getting to work with my custom cabinet and furniture building husband is the best! I’m very excited to prove that you’re never too old to start something new!”

Wesaw Studio, this month’s host business will showcase artist Sallie Wesaw’s art. Other artists this month include Andrea Linn, spinner and textile artist, Joyce Fletcher textiles, Jane Oldridge, textiles and Susan Lankford will demonstrate using diffusers and clay necklaces with healing oils all at WOW Store. Rodney Skenandore, multi-media will show at One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company. Visit Stephanie Conrad and Stefanie Gilbert and their repurposed art at S Squared Designs. Barb Rice and Ana Mosser will be featured at Hazel N Pearls. Join Barb Friday evening and Saturday for “An Everything for Your YARD SALE” sale. Enjoy popsicles and shop for rakes and signs and birdhouses and wheelbarrows and flower pots and trellises and repurposed things to help your garden grow artsy.

Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center invite you to stroll by to look at the Western Art Show. The museum is gathering together art work, that is not normally on display, for this Stroll. Some of the work is historic while other work will be more recent. This will be your chance to view this special collection of art. While there be sure to take part in the Make It and Take It Art Activity. This month, during the stroll you can make a fun summer western piece of art to take with you.

The Second-Friday ArtStroll and Still Strolling Saturday are organized by Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation and Smoking Waters Art Guild with additional help from Main Street Thermopolis and Hot Springs Travel & Tourism.