By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
For those who'll crave a quick break from the heat at the Create! downtown festival, Panhandle PBS will put the spotlight on the arts in an indoor screening room.
Create! is the new brainchild of Center City of Amarillo, replacing the traditional Center City Block Party. It's scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 20 in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., and the Amarillo Public Library downtown branch, 413 S.E. Fourth Ave., as well as on the grounds around both buildings and the stretch of Fourth Avenue between them. Admission for the family festival is free.
The festival kicks off with a VIP preview party from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Aug. 19 in the Globe-News Center. Admission is $75.
Panhandle PBS will screen about 20 short films on a 40-minute loop inside the library. The content includes the Panhandle PBS web series The Season, which follows Amarillo Little Theatre during its 90th anniversary season, and Artistically Speaking, which examines art from the eyes of the creators, as well as segments of Art in the 21st Century and a variety of arts-themed shorts from the PBS Digital Studios.
In addition to offering quick bites of arts content, both local and national, the screening room will offer families a place to cool off during the day-long festival.
Elsewhere, the festival will feature food booths, arts and crafts, and children's activities. Participating groups include the Amarillo Art Institute, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Extreme Martial Arts, the Amarillo College Youth Conservatory Theater, Home Depot, Civic Amarillo, High Plains Public Radio, Amarillo Parks and Recreation Department, CareNet, Family Support Services and Parties, Picnics and Promotions.
An outdoor concert stage will feature Andy Chase, The DustJackets, Mike Fuller and Noah Jenda.
Inside the Globe-News Center, Center City will provide free screenings of Finding Nemo, The Goonies and Jaws, as well as original short films from the Amarillo 48-Hour Film Project. Katie Eddins will run karaoke, and artists will display their works.
During the Aug. 19 VIP preview party, nationally touring Amarillo band Strangetowne will perform. Eddins will provide karaoke, allowing visitors to sing from the center's stage, and visitors can paint in the Education Room with Burn Studios. Food and beverages will be provided. Artists Jacob Breeden, Marsha Clements, David Corbin, Luz Angela Crawford, Ann Crouch, Ralph Duke, Kent Harris, Melynn Huntley, Kyle Singleton, Mary Solomon and Gary Ward will display their works in an art show and sale. Tickets are available at the Center City office, 1000 S. Polk St.
The festival puts a spotlight on visual and performing arts as Center City is spearheading a drive to have portions of Amarillo designated as a cultural district with the Texas Commission on the Arts.
Call 806-372-6744.
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and at www.facebook.com/chipchandlerwriter on Facebook.
