By CATHERINE ELLERTON
Moapa Valley Progress
“To coordinate, promote and assist in the development and advancement of cultural Arts activities in Moapa Valley through the cooperative efforts of citizens and organizations acting in concert”
That has been the mission, for the past 55 years, of the Moapa Valley Art Guild.
Artist Max Bunnell is credited as the Founding Father of this organization and, through the years, the Guild has met its goals.
In 1959 the Guild was begun as a non-profit organization. Spring Art Shows were established. A permanent art exhibit was created. In 1993, President Jerry Mitchler began the High School Scholarship Program, And in 1996 the first Art Festival, which became known as the Pomegranate Art Festival, was held in the parking lot of Heber and Zona Tobler’s business at Home Hardware.
The Festival was moved to the Old Logandale School in 2001 under the guidance of Guild President Jo Tame. By 2009 the Festival had grown and flourished to the point that it had to be moved to the Clark County Fairgrounds where it now celebrates its 19th year on November 7-8.
The Pomegranate Festival is unique, in that it features handmade arts and crafts not only of local artists but from many who come from Utah, southern Nevada, Idaho and California. These items are sought after for gifts, house decorations and children’s toys.
Naturally, the Pomegranate jelly is a featured food item as well as the culinary delights of the many food venders who take part in the celebration. This year is no exception. There will be approximately 80 vendors present plus the food vendors with the traditional American hamburger meals, pizza, Italian sandwiches, stuffed potatoes and roasted corn. The proceeds from this event, and of the raffle held during it, go to the scholarship fund which now awards over $3,000.00 to local high school seniors who plan to study the arts as well as past winners who currently are in college.
As the Festival attendee wanders through the many indoor and outdoor booths and vendors, they also have the opportunity of enjoying the talent of local musicians, dancers and poets to include in 2014 Rachel Garcia, singer, the Red Lion Choir and the Cactus Kickers.
