June 25, 2012. On the Fourth of July, Elkland Art Center in Todd hosts an annual arts parade called The Liberty Parade. Participants become the parade by wearing costumes and carrying large puppets that represent our local environment, environmental and social concerns and current creative impulses. Each year Elkland artists and community members add a segment or theme to the parade.
This year’s theme is based on the element Air. Artists are designing large wind puppets, birds, cloud costumes, banners, pinwheels, windsocks and all kinds of beautiful things that are enlivened by the air connecting us all.
In celebration of that connection, Elkland Art Center has offered over 25 free or low-cost workshops in Ashe and Watauga counties through Ashe County 4-H, The Florence Thomas Art School and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. These workshops have been made possible in part by The Blessings Project Foundation, Inc, The Conservation Fund and workshop host sites. Thanks to our grantors, we have been able to work with local Hispanic artists in the making of the parade.
The final workshop will be in Todd on Railroad Grade Road at the Old Bank Building beside the Todd Mercantile this Saturday, June 30 from 1-3 p.m.
This year’s parade takes place on Wednesday, July 4. Meet at the field across the bridge at the corner of 194 N and Railroad Grade Road in Todd at 10:30 a.m. and parade at 11 a.m. This is a participatory parade. All props, puppets and costumes are provided.
The parade culminates in a large puppet skit and live music provided by Todd’s own Henhouse Thieves at the Walter and Annie Cook Memorial Park.
Food provided by Vitality, Bare Essentials and local Hispanic vendors.
Come experience this exciting, compassionate and artful expression of freedom and community.
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