Not every masterpiece winds up in a museum in New York City or Paris. Seeing great art doesn’t have to mean bright lights, big cities and an even bigger budget. Smaller cities are able to cultivate a creative vibe in thriving art communities that are producing and sharing gorgeous art in its many forms, some of it in smaller museums and galleries, but much of it in public spaces just waiting for you to discover them.
True art fans visit in late June to experience the Lakeshore Art Festival, featuring more than 300 juried fine art and specialty craft exhibitors as well as interactive art for children and adults, performers and food vendors. The award-winning festival highlights all the best of Muskegon as art takes over the streets.Lucas, Kansas Towns don’t get much smaller than Lucas. Fewer than 400 people call this farm community in the middle of the plains home.
Taos, New Mexico Perhaps the country’s most well-known artist colony, Taos has drawn creatives to Northern New Mexico since the late 1800s. Most famously, Georgia O’Keeffe made Taos home for the final four decades of her life. Reno, Nevada The biggest little city has so much more to offer than the flashing lights of the casinos. There are great museums, including the Nevada Museum of Art and the National Automobile Museum, but the big draw here is public art.
Located in an old marble quarry, TurnPark is an open-air museum and sculpture garden that features art primarily from the Soviet Nonconformist Art movement of the 1950s to the 1980s. There’s also the Guild of Berkshire Artists, who lead seminars, talks, exhibits, Plein-air events and demonstrations to educate the public.Cody, Wyoming This small city in the northwest corner of Wyoming is most well-known for one of its founding residents, “Buffalo Bill” Cody and nearby Yellowstone National Park.
In July and October, the town hosts the Craftsmen’s Fairs. The juried shows last more than a week and boast more than 200 booths of handmade and artisan creations.
Nice! This one is a keeper, TY