The 5^th Annual Artosphere Festival has kicked off all across the NWA region, offering a spectacular selection of events to connect the community through arts and nature. The mission of Artosphere is to celebrate artists, influenced by nature, who inspire us to live more sustainable lives. Spanning the months of May and June, the festival is packed with kids and family events, movement, visual arts and music performed all over the region. Below are photos from the Artosphere Celebration and Chapel Concert (courtesy of Beth Hall Photography), as well as a look at upcoming events.

On Friday, May 16, the Artosphere Celebration was held in the Tyson Plaza of the Walton Arts Center and featured live music by the Arkansas-based band Cletus Got Shot. 

The event allowed community members to observe the visual art of the Translating Earth, Transforming Sea exhibition by Shawn Bitters, Joan Hall, and Laura Moriarty. The exhibition is on display in the Joy Pratt Markham Gallery from May 1 – June 21.

Children interacted with the urban art installation Under the Stars by renowned street artist Maser.

Guests were encouraged to take home free mulch from Patrick Dougherty’s Out of the Woodwork installation, as part of the 2012 Artosphere Festival.

On Tuesday, May 20, guests of the Thorncrown Chapel of Eureka Springs were serenaded by the enchanting voice of Shannon Wurst as part of the Chapel Music Series.

On Sunday, June 1, Artosphere’s signature event, the Trail Mix Concert Tour is back! Celebrating all that our wonderfully unique region has to offer, Walton Arts Center invites you to wander the trails of Bentonville and Fayetteville while enjoying performances from a talented array of artists. This year's Trail Mix artists include the Artosphere Festival Orchestra Ensembles, Carter Sampson, Candy Lee & the Sweets, Street Drum Corps, Martha Redbone Trio, Smokey & the Mirror and Cry You One. In Fayetteville, the Street Drum Corps will be performing on Maser’s art installation, Under the Stars, at Nadine Baum Studios. All Trail Mix photos courtesy of Ironside Photography.

Starting along the beautifully sculpted Art Trail near Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville (1-3pm) and continuing along the Frisco Trail in downtown Fayetteville (5-7pm), Trail Mix combines music, hiking and biking for a one-of-a-kind, free outdoor experience. With no tickets or registration required, this unforgettable event is free and open to the public.

In collaboration with Artosphere and Trail Mix, Upstream Art will be leading a walking tour of the storm drain murals in the downtown area from 3-5pm, beginning at the Fayetteville Underground. 

If you’ve yet to attend an Artosphere event, pull out your calendar! There are still plenty of opportunities to take part in the Artosphere Festival with upcoming events including Compagnia TPO’s Bleu! On May 24 in Starr Theatre and Artosphere Festival Orchestra with Corrado Rovaris as Music Director Live From Crystal Bridges: Mozart In The Museum on May 28.

For a listing of all Artosphere events and more information, visit http://waltonartscenter.org/artosphere/ or call 479-443-5600.