New exhibit commemorates Eagle Rock Art Guild’s 75th anniversary
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IDAHO FALLS — The Eagle Rock Art Guild (ERAG) is celebrating a big milestone this year, and they’re kicking it off with a special exhibit at The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls.
The guild’s 75th Anniversary show runs now through August 12 and is composed of pieces from ERAG’s permanent collection. The exhibition highlights the relationship the guild has fostered with the Idaho Falls community, as well as the artistic contributions made by guild members.
“We are the oldest art guild in Idaho,” ERAG president Dawn Langston told EastIdahoNews.com. “We teach people and encourage the arts, teach people who want to learn new skills or try new things. In the past, we’ve made arrangements for well-known artists to come and teach their techniques. We’ve taught classes. We’ve gone out to the senior center and had children’s activities, so we’ve had a lot of community outreach.”
“When I think of the guild, I think that they’re the ones who have really nurtured our artists and made the artists’ community here what it is today,” said Museum Executive Director Miyai Abe Griggs. “Without them, I don’t think we’d have this museum or all the other arts organizations in the community. Because of the guild, we have the vibrant arts culture that we do.”
The guild was founded in 1948 by local artists Helen Aupperle, Suzanne Fonnesbeck, Fred Ochi and Ina Oyler. Over the years, the guild has helped educate local aspiring artists of all ages and was instrumental in the construction of The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho.
The 75th Anniversary exhibit reflects this history by featuring pieces created by a number of artists that have been associated with the guild throughout its history.
“(These pieces) were done by our founding members and other influential members,” said Langston. “Some of them were done by artists who came to us to teach, and then some were donated to our collection, too.”
The exhibit opened with an event on May 4, which featured relatives of some of the founding members sharing their memories and telling stories about the guild’s founders and the early days of the organization.
The celebration will continue with ERAG’s Sidewalk Art Festival on July 22 and 23 on the Idaho Falls Green Belt. Langston said that the guild is working hard to make this year’s show an extra special event in recognition of the 75-year milestone.
“We are going all-out to give it a party, festival feel,” Langston said. “We’re planning on having birthday cake, and entertainment on both days throughout. We’ll have lots of food vendors. We’re trying to get as many as possible since food truck culture is so big right now. We have a specific canopy that’s going to be set up for high school students so that they can show their work. The Art Museum is also going to be doing a booth for children’s activities.”
Langston said the guild is seeking artists to show their work, entertainers to provide mirth and music and volunteers to help set up, tear down and keep the Sidewalk Art Festival running smoothly.
The group is also looking for sponsors to help cover the costs of the guild’s activities and fund the group’s search for a permanent physical location. You can find links to sign up on the ERAG website or you can contact them by phone at (208) 529-2555 or email at eaglerockartguild@gmail.com.
You can see the Eagle Rock Art Guild 75th Anniversary exhibit at The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho now through Aug. 12. Visit the museum website for museum hours and more information.
