Story by AIDAN HAMMOND Photos by IAN HENDERSON
Tiger Media Network
On Saturday, the Hays Arts Council, in collaboration with the art department, leadership department and the LDRS_310 class, hosted a Block Party on the Bricks. This event was aimed at bringing people together for an afternoon of live music, art, and food and drink.
Start of a beautiful painting 
Woman learning how to screen print 
Finished screen print! 
Turning on the furnace to melt metal 
Creating molds for the molten metal to be poured in 
More carving 
Painting Progress 
More painting 
Patron enjoying the Block Party 
More carving of the resin sand 
A woman works on a painting 
Making sure the metal is nice and hot 
Pouring the molten aluminum into the handmade molds 
Closer up shot of the pouring proccess 
Wide pouring 
FHSU Sculpture Club taking a rest after that last pour 
Kid making a mold 
FHSU Students trying out the screen printing 
Selling prints from the event 
The event featured live music 
Quenching (Rapid cooling down) of the aluminum pieces 
Riding a bike to make spin art 
Pouring the paint in 
Final result 
Painting Progress 
Hays Arts Center 
3 ladies working on the same mold 
Fun screen printing 
One of many kniting stations to have fun 
The painting’s final result
Hays Arts Council started the fundraiser with the goal of raising money for the organization as well as giving the people of Hays more opportunities to view and appreciate different varieties of art on display.
“We have multiple facilities here on 11th street and we have these great partners across the street. A committee came together and came up with this idea of a block party to bring everybody out on the street and find ways to appreciate various forms of art,” said Brittney Squire, president of the Hays Arts Council board of directors.
These demonstrations of art included oil painting, watercolor, aluminum metal casting, screen printing, and live musical performances. One of the highlights was the All in Good Art auction exhibit, which featured donated pieces from area and regional artists, accompanied by an additional online auction for buyers to bid on. This exhibit and auction will continue for the next two weeks.
The Hays Art Council also worked with FHSU students to put on the event. A team from Leadership 310 was assigned to help put this event together. They talked with the Arts Council to learn more about bringing this event to life.
“The Hays Arts Council wanted to create an annual fundraiser, and the Leadership 310 team helped bring that vision to life,” said LDS 310 class member Hailee Bingham.
The Hays Arts Council aims to make this an annual event if it receives sufficient support from the community. The Hays Arts Council said they are always willing to support the arts and are grateful that so many people attended and provided their own support for the event and the various forms of art on display.