Local artists and musicians are coming together for the fourth annual Art & Music Thing at the Gryphon Theatre this Saturday.
The Gryphon Theatre has put this event on for four years as a way to raise money to support KOCA Radio Montanesa and WhatFest music festival, according to the Gryphon Theatre website. Local Laramie artists and musicians get the chance to showcase their talents, ranging from photography to different musical groups. The musicians that will be performing include Jay Shogren and The Whiskey Slaps. There will also be art on display by the following artists: Sage Glass Creations, Seneca Creek Photography, Robert Bryans and more to be announced.
“The Art & Music Thing is a wonderful opportunity to showcase art and music in Laramie that doesn’t necessarily get shown,” said Birgit Burke of Whiskey Slaps, one of the bands performing at this year’s Art & Music Thing. “This is the biggest event like this out there.” Birgit Burke plays guitar, mandolin and sings for the band Whiskey Slaps. Hillery Lynn and Pryce Taylor are the other members of the band with Lynn on guitar and vocals and Taylor playing the upright and electric bass.
The Art & Music Thing will also feature work from local Laramie artists, including photographers. Seneca Creek Photography will be present at The Art & Music Thing and will have photo cards, matted prints and a collection of photographs that will be printed on metal of Wyoming landscapes and stars.
“Every year the event improves, evolves, and draws in more and more new talent,” said Allison Pluda, the mind behind the camera for Seneca Creek Photography. “I think this year will showcase the visual artists more than in previous years with the addition of an Affordable Art Table and extra available display space.” Pluda has been attending The Art & Music Thing since 2012 where some of her first night sky metal prints were sold, she said.
The Art & Music Thing is a good event to show what works for presentation of art, said Burke.
“Students should come to The Art & Music Thing because they will see a lot of their peers, graduates of the university, it will give them the opportunity to see what’s out there, and really see what works and what doesn’t work with the presentation of art.”
“The fact that I can share my photography with the community, meet new artists, listen to my favorite local singer songwriters and rock out at two stages of music all at the same time is spectacular,” said Pluda. “Good music, good art, good attitudes!”
The Art & Music Thing will be offering the opportunity for community members and University of Wyoming students to come see and support local Laramie artists and musicians at the Gryphon Theatre starting at 1 p.m. Saturday.
