Digitally Yours: A Celebration of Art Made of Bits and Bytes

It’s our mission-work: RLC works hard to attract new investment to our historic downtown community while also supporting small business growth with our unique programming.

RLC’s Downtown Rogers Art on the Bricks Art Walk provides a welcoming and diverse ThirdSpace to members of our community. In addition to extended hours in retail shops, art galleries and pop-up art exhibits are scheduled from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on the 2nd Thursday of every month.

• Our Art Walk is also promoting Downtown Rogers as a destination location for arts, music, dance, and other interactive experiences.

What’s happening in July: We’re showcasing the talent of less traditional artists on July 13 in Downtown Rogers, specifically those who work in the digital realm:

• Animators, illustrators, photographers, plasma cutter operators, and techies dabbling in AI art generators, and other creators of digital art.

Inspired by AI Appreciation Day: The theme of the July 13 event is Digitally Yours, A Celebration of Art Made of Bits and Bytes, inspired the annual celebration of Artificial Intelligence Appreciation Day.

• It’s celebrated (or cursed) each year on July 16. We know that some appreciate the day more than others, but it is an opportunity for everyone to understand it better.

AI Origins: While both promise and peril related to Artificial Intelligence, or AI, are heard daily, one would think it is a new invention. Its origin may surprise you.

• A Google search and quick read of Wikipedia (and what is more AI than Google and Wikipedia?) indicates the science first dates to the invention of a programmable digital computer in the forties followed by the founding of AI research during a workshop on the campus of Dartmouth College in 1956.

Harnessing imagination through digital: Locally, artist and musician, Dave Floyd of Bella Vista, recognized the potential of harnessing his imagination through digital mediums.

• Drawing inspiration from science fiction and fantasy literature, along with his affinity for music and nature, he embarked on a journey to blend these elements into cohesive and captivating imagery.

• Floyd immersed himself in the realm of digital art and is sharing it with other artists and patrons of art and technology.

• Floyd is one of several local artists giving art demonstrations and classes throughout 2023, in conjunction with RLC’s Art on the Bricks Art Walk, with support from a Thirds Space Placemaking Grant from Walmart Foundation.

• He is sharing the opportunity to use artificial intelligence software to introduce others to the exciting realm of AI generated art. For example, “The Coolest Cat in Town,” an AI generative portrait printed on a 24” x 28” canvas, depicts musician Bob Dylan personified as a feline, sold within minutes during the June Art on the Bricks Art Walk.

• His enthusiasm for art will again be readily available as he demonstrates the technology in an interactive display at the Rogers Experimental House, 121 W Walnut Street in Rogers, during upcoming workshops offered by Art on the Bricks Art Walk and Artists of Northwest Arkansas at Rogers Experimental House.

Other featured local artists: These artists enlisted digital technology when creating art and are offering live demonstrations as they sketch on their iPads to create original images or manipulate photographs they have taken with digital cameras.

• Meenashi Chandran, Bentonville

• Tom Day, Fayetteville

• Katie Gibbs

• Catherine Goenner, Rogers

• Angie Gomez, Rogers

• Melissa Milton of Fayetteville

• Alan Simmons of Bella Vista

• Ron Tilman, Rogers

• Atalissa Webb, Siloam Springs

Another creative individual, Dana Hill: also of Bella Vista, has a unique way to use digital technology and it has enabled the former art teacher to continue to create as she ages. Artists Dana Hill and Beverly McLarty (Beverly Burrows now), collaborate digitally to create art. It was displayed in July at Ozark Beer Company in the 2nd Floor gallery space above the taproom.

• Hill works as a “ghost painter” for Beverly McLarty Burrows, who was well-known in Arkansas as an artist. Burrows, who now lives in Tennessee, is no longer able to create using paint and brushes. Instead, the two artists collaborate via Facebook Messenger – with Burrows doing most of the design and Hill doing the painting. The finished pieces are signed Bevdana.

• The Ozark Beer Company exhibit will include works by Bevdana and Dana Hill throughout the month of July.

But wait, there’s more: Traditional art will be on display in more than a dozen galleries, shops and restaurants that partner with area artists to highlight the creative talent of members of our community.

• Meet artists and crafters of all mediums and support the local creative economy in Downtown Rogers.

• July Art Walk Highlights | CLICK HERE for the interactive map.

The monthly event is coordinated by Rogers Lowell Chamber in partnership with Destination Rogers and business owners and area non-profit organizations and participating artists from across Northwest Arkansas and beyond.

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