KICKAPOO...

The devastation of the floods was certainly evident on our car trip eastward through Coon Valley and then south along the Kickapoo River to attend the Driftless Area Art Festival. It became more apparent that the 4 million dollar Federal Aid requested by our Governor falls way short of the devastation to flood victims.  Besides homes, entire fields were destroyed.

Due to the flooding this 14th year of the festival had to be moved from its past location in Soldiers Grove to the neighboring town of  Gays Mills's Crawford County Fair Grounds. 

The usual serene setting had changed in Soldiers Grove. The Kickapoo waters had overflowed their man made levee in the park with such force it tore through the tennis court over the fest grounds across the street into the parking lot.

Grass covered levee  by Kickapoo River in Soldiers Grove, you can see by the tree line the levee's height  

demolished tennis courts

what used to be where the parking lot across the street from the park

It's not that nearby Gays Mills was untouched as many of its downtown stores were closed including its Food Coop actually the first in the Coulee Region (1970's) and has been relocated to the Mercantile Building on higher ground until they can figure out their future. 

The Crawford Fairgrounds are also on higher ground and had plenty of parking space for the Art Festival. Attendance was good in spite of a warm weekend and area artists from all over Wisconsin and some from across the river from neighboring Iowa and Minnesota shared their beautiful art and flood stories too. The Artist Silent Auction proceeds went to Flood Relief. 

A little less than a hundred artists showed their wares and I always love seeing the kids art booth where kids can work on an art project like painting little  pumpkins/ceramic pieces. 

Area schools had entered their students's art to be displayed in the Youth tent as well. It's wonderful to see the projects art teachers are promoting to encourage their students creativity and artistic abilities.

Judges awarded ribbons to their favorites in the Youth tent as well as kid visitors attaching  tags to adorn their favorites.

It's also great to see artists art growing from one year to the next. One of my favorite glass artists Laurel and her glass works are becoming multidimensional and sculptural.

Laurel Grey Glassworks

 Look for her work in Door County's upcoming art show!

 And of course there's always great local music to enjoy... 



On  Saturday The Roddys and Patchouli performed followed on Sunday by Kickapoo Joy Juice and the Medicine Brothers.

Kickapoo Joy Juice

And local culinary arts including Apple'licious, Food for Thought, Mary's Berries in addition to catering food trucks amongst others added a special locavore touch to the festival.

The music, art, food, people and gorgeous blue skies surrounded by the changing tree colors on the hills added a bit of welcomed reprieve for all of us recuperating from the floods. It's still a beautiful place to live albeit battered right now...