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Art in the Alley event brings culture and ‘placemaking’ to Elkader

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Check out Elkader’s “Art in the Alley” on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is meant to build off Elkader’s bustling art culture and attractions. It will stretch from the post office down toward the opera house, running through the main alley in downtown, which stretches along the backside of Main Street.

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

“It’s all about placemaking.” 

That’s how Main Street Elkader (MSE) Executive Director Kate Lower talked about the upcoming Art in the Alley event scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. 

On the heels of Main Street Elkader being designated an Iowa Cultural and Entertainment District by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, the event—the first of its kind—is meant to build off Elkader’s bustling art culture and attractions. It will stretch from the post office down toward the opera house, running through the main alley in downtown, which stretches along the backside of Main Street. 

The purpose of Art in the Alley is to raise additional funds for future art events, projects and installations. The event will feature several artists, both local and from around the country, such as Arthur Geisert, Joyce St. Clair Voltz, Jim Walch, Brian Davis, Rosalyn Hurley, Ketaki Poyekar and Cary Kann. All were chosen through MSE’s “Call to Artists” application process based on several criteria, including artist location, experience, creativity, unique expression and placemaking. 

It’s all meant to “promote Elkader as a destination for the arts and culture,” Lower said.

While Art in the Alley is meant to be a walking event, due to the city council’s decision not to close the alley because of the liabilities posed by the deficiencies in the alley pavement, normal traffic will still be present. The move has prompted increased attention to safety, and MSE is looking into having a few golf carts to shuttle individuals who are unable to safely walk through the alley. Lower remained confident the decision will not impact turnout. 

The turnout is imperative, as people are the lifeblood of any art and cultural event, which always require funding, but according to Lower, MSE “has been resourceful” in finding donations for the event. 

Moreover, Art in the Alley is also about the future, as it also serves as a fundraiser for future projects and art installations. With this in mind, there will be donation buckets throughout the alley manned by volunteers. You can also donate via PayPal or Venmo. All those details can be found on MSE’s Facebook page and website. 

But what do events like Art in the Alley provide to the community? Well, you could win a gift basket for tagging MSE in a photo while participating in the event. You also get to enjoy the fun of a family-friendly event with the “unique” opportunity to take photos with the work of talented artists in the background. You can take advantage of the Harvest Festival, an event which is happening around the same time in Founders Park. You can explore Elkader beyond the alley, shopping, dining and enjoying all it has to offer afterward. 

“It’s a weekend out and about in Elkader,” Lower said. 

Such events also have a positive economic impact. 

“Art draws in tourism, which benefits our business district and downtown retailers. It enhances the economic vitality of Elkader,” Lower said. 

There is some truth to that assessment. According to the Iowa Department of Revenue, since 2014, there has been a noticeable increase in the sales tax generated—at 16 percent—and motel/hotel tax collected in Clayton County, with a 98 percent increase. 

More importantly, beyond the economic factor is creating a “sense of place” or placemaking. Placemaking, by definition, is done by “creating public spaces that promote people’s health, happiness and well-being,” and this is what MSE hopes to accomplish with Art in the Alley and all future art- and cultural-focused events. 

But what makes art so vital to this process? Well, because “art reflects the history of humanity,” artist Jim Walch said. It is the art left behind that tells the story of the times and places that came before, because art is transcendent and transformative. 

Art in the Alley and other art festivities are meant to strengthen the community’s economic prospects, “sense of place” and “future identity” with the goal of turning Elkader into a destination people will choose to move to, start businesses in and grow with. 

“Communities with an active and dynamic cultural scene are more attractive to individuals and businesses,” Lower said. “Art builds and reinforces community culture, and art can act as a catalyst for community generation and regeneration.”

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