Sisters gets set for arts celebration

"Something Wild" this way comes. On Friday afternoon, April 17, the streets of Sisters will come alive with My Own Two Hands' community parade, followed by an art stroll in downtown Sisters.

Based around the theme, "Something Wild," students in all three local schools have been making masks, banners and flags for the march down Hood Avenue.

"Everyone in the community is invited to participate," said Events Director Katy Yoder. "We've had so much fun in the Common Canvas classes watching people of all ages create amazing 'paradable' art for the event."

The parade will begin at the corner of Hood Avenue and Pine Street. People will gather in the vacant lot next to Miss Sew-It-All around 3:30 p.m. The parade will begin at 4 p.m. and will include a marching band led by Jody Henderson, decorated bikes, and "wild" kids showcasing their masks.

Clay Warburton will be heading up the student participation, and asks parents to accompany their kids in the parade. GFP Enterprises has donated their expertise in traffic control as well as safety vests, cones and staff. The parade will end at Spruce Street, followed by Sisters Elementary School students performing in front of Common Threads.

There will be live music in 14 locations, performed by local musicians and Americana Project students. Art Stroll locations will feature artwork that will be auctioned off the next night at Ponderosa Forge & Iron Works.

"This is a great way to see the art and begin planning what you will bid on at the Forge," said Yoder.

Tickets are still available for the auction and party through the Sisters Folk Festival office.

My Own Two Hands is an annual community fund-raiser, presented by the Sisters Folk Festival, to raise money for the Sisters Americana Project, the Festival's educational outreach program. Since 2001, the Americana Project has been a catalyst in the Sisters School District, helping to maintain music and arts education in the midst of dwindling funding.

Considered a "community-themed art project," My Own Two Hands offers the opportunity for artists throughout Sisters and Central Oregon to participate by creating pieces of art around a central theme.

Hundreds of students in Sisters participate in My Own Two Hands with the guidance of the Americana instructors, co-founder/director Brad Tisdel, Kit Stafford, Gary Bowne, Brent Alan and Clay Warburton.

To learn more contact Katy Yoder at 549-4979, or e-mail [email protected] To view the donated art visit http://www.sistersfolkfestival.org.