Artosphere is a great reason to visit Arkansas 
handout Musicians of the group Plastic Musik uses nontraditional materials to create musical instruments for concert along the Trail Mix Bike Tour.
I just learned about this festival in Arkansas that would make a great day trip for St. Louisans and thought I’d pass it along.
It’s called Artosphere and runs through June 4. It celebrates artists influenced by nature, who inspire sustainable lifestyles. The festival features music, dance, children’s theater, visual arts and lectures. In its first season last year, more than 20,000 people attended. Events are held in both traditional (stages and auditoriums) and unusual (bike trails, chapels) venues throughout Northwest Arkansas, in the Fayetteville area.
All-access festival passes are $79, or tickets can be purchased for individual events, with prices ranging from $5 – $25. For more information, contact the Walton Arts Center Box Office at 1-479-443-5600 or by visitingwaltonartscenter.org.
Here are some festival highlights, from the email:
Garden as Muse, April 22-June 4, Joy Pratt Markham Gallery, Walton Arts Center – Features major works by five contemporary artists inspired by gardens and botanical themes. Whether working in photography, sculpture or painting, the artists share a fascination with the dynamism of nature. Andrea Packard, a Philadelphia-based curator and artist, selected the artists and created the concept. Admission is free Monday-Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday 12pm-4pm.
Trail Mix Concert Tour, May 14, Lake Fayetteville Trail – Whether by bike or by foot, audiences experience music from five bands in the great outdoors, on stages and with sound systems powered by solar and bike pedal-powered electricity. Arts activities and greening stations (offering energy-saving and sustainability tips by Arkansas Energy Corps)- can also be experienced on the trail.
Artosphere Festival Orchestra (AFO) concerts, May 17, 21 and 22 – Under music director Corrado Rovaris, the AFO features 76 world-class musicians from around the country coming together for 10 days of intense rehearsal, performance and community outreach. The AFO will perform two concerts and host the finalists of the Fulbright Piano Concerto Competition.
Imago Theater’s ZooZoo, April 23, Baum Walker Hall, Walton Arts Center – The playful creatures in ZooZoo have gained international appeal through Imago Theater’s tour throughout Asia, Europe, Canada and the U.S., and recently was awarded the New York Dance Film Award and “Best Touring Production” by Independent Viewers of New England. Imago’s playful cast of creatures provides a highly entertaining yet sophisticated performance that entices the senses and the mind of audiences of all ages.
The Nature of Strings Series, with performances throughout May at Chapel on the Creeks (Rogers), St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable (Fayetteville), Thorncrown Chapel (Eureka Springs) and Crystal Bridges Sculpture Trail(Bentonville) -encourages audiences to take inspiration from beautiful settings and the resonance of stringed instruments in the hands of master musicians. Christopher Parkening, one of the world’s preeminent classical guitar virtuosos, is the music director. The Kiev Trio, The Old City String Quartet and Frank Vignola and the Virtuoso Band will perform.
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Arkansas, Great Reason, Visit Arkansas