The Niles DDA is putting out an opencall to area artists for the seventh annual Arts in Motion event Saturday in downtown Niles.

Several popular activities will return, according to event chairman Mark Whitfield, including an amateur sand sculpting competition.

“We’re (also) doing the Chalk the Walk competition, which we do every year, and there will be prizes awarded with that,” Whitfield said.

Another popular activity, the Art Car, will return — to a new location. The car, on which people of all ages can leave their artistic mark, will be located on Second Street.

Though Whitfield said budget cuts to the event will mean no professional sand sculpting this year, a new interactive bit of artistry will be available.

“In front of 210 East Main St., there will be an interactive mural that people will be able to work on,” he said.

A 14-foot long canvas will await a little color when the event begins Saturday.
Sand sculpting jars and bubble activities for children will also be available.

“It’s all about the kids,” Whitfield said. “(To) try to get the kids involved in the arts.”
Whitfield said he and downtown officials have also tried to bring in local and area artists to showcase their talent, but the list of vendors is small; therefore, any area artisans willing to participate can contact Whitfield or DDA Executive Director Lisa Croteau at Niles Main Street, 687-4332.

“Face painters, jugglers, anybody is welcome,” Whitfield said. “There’s no cost to participate. Anyone who wants to come down and show off a little bit.”

The event will start around 10 a.m. and run until approximately 4 p.m.

Art for the ears
One form of art that won’t be in short supply on Saturday is the musical kind.
Tom Majerek said he has arranged for a number of bands to perform during Arts in Motion Saturday on a portable stage on Third Street in downtown Niles.

That includes a homecoming for Niles High School graduate Steve Flynn, singing the songs made famous by “Old Blue Eyes” himself, Frank Sinatra, in an act he calls “Flynnatra.”

“I had been in touch with Steve Flynn, knowing that he’s done this ‘Flynnatra’ show and wanting to get it to Niles,” Majerek said.

Scheduling between the two coincided and “it just kind of fell into place,” Majerek said.

Flynn was born in Chicago and according to his website, has established himself as a Sinatra tribute artist in the Washington/Baltimore area.

For the audience, Majerek said, the show will bring a little taste of something different.

“Everyone likes Sinatra,” he said. “I do believe (though) that usually when you go to a lounge or an event where there’s a Sinatra impersonator, it’s not at a county fair” or at an outdoor concert-style event.

Also returning to Niles is Harpeth Rising, the Nashville-based band of classically trained musicians Majerek said present “a sound you don’t hear every day.”

“I think people in this area remembered them,” Majerek said, which led the band to come back to Niles. They have performed previously at the Bluegrass Festival, though Majerek said their sound was distinctive enough it appealed to those less hardcore bluegrass fans.

There will be a total of seven performances Saturday, including local artists Emilee Allan and Scott Thalman, rounding out the arts and music portion of Arts in Motion.

But it’s the fans’ dedication to the touring musical artists that Majerek believes will “make what Arts in Motion an awesome event for music.”

Arts in Motion Saturday Music Schedule

Third Street Stage, corner of Third and Main streets
Noon — Scott Thalman, singer-songwriter
1:30 p.m. — 3 & One, acoustic rock group
3 p.m. — Emilee Allan, singer-songwriter, http://emileeallan.com

Niles Riverfront Amphitheater
4:30 p.m. — 3 & One
5:45 p.m. — Emilee Allan
7 p.m. — Flynnatra, Frank Sinatra tribute artist, www.flynnatra.com
8 p.m. —  Harpeth Rising, acoustic group from Nashville, Tenn., http://harpethrising.com