Yard Party for Art, the Hottest Party of the Year, Returns to WMA August 11

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Jul 31 2018 6:38 PM

DOTHAN: The Wiregrass Museum of Art (WMA) is pleased to announce that Yard Party for Art, its annual fundraiser for art education, will return to the museum's garden on Saturday, August 11, 2018. Billed as "the hottest party of the year," the evening will include an energetic lineup of live, original music from regional musicians, interactive art installations, yard games, great drinks, local food trucks, and a chance to dance the night away at a one-night music festival to support and promote the arts.

The 2018 event will feature performances by The Georgia Flood (Atlanta, Ga.), Pony League (Atlanta, Ga.), Street Clothes (Savannah, Ga.), and Nikki & the Phantom Callers(Atlanta, Ga.). William O'Neal, a Tallahassee, Florida-based poet, will perform spoken word between the sets, and local deejay B.J. Kelli from WDJR 96.9 FM will serve as the evening's emcee.

Yard Party for Art will once again feature interactive art installations on the museum's grounds. WMA's third and final Alabama Bicentennial exhibition, "Semiotic Compass/Sharing Our Stories," a public sculpture designed and constructed by local artists, will make its debut at the event. And Tallahassee-based art collective SOUP experimental featuring Lucia Riffel will install a mesmerizing digital art "environment" in the yard for concertgoers to experience.

"We've been incorporating interactive art and art installations the last several years as a way to connect our visitors more with our mission. By showcasing work from local artists and regional partners, we're able to provide a platform for attendees to engage directly with the art and artists. And all for a great cause," said WMA Director and Curator Dana-Marie Lemmer.

Dothan's favorite food trucks and vendors, including Peckham's Food Truck, Holi Indian Cuisine, and Cal & Al's, will be lined up to provide crowd-pleasing snacks and dinner all evening long. Local microbrewery, Folklore Brewing and Meadery, will offer a tasting of Guava Wheat Harvest, a craft beer brewed especially for Yard Party for Art. Cash bars featuring drinks from Adams Beverages will be located throughout the venue. WMA will provide free water for all in attendance.

New to Yard Party this year is The Oasis Tent, the ultimate VIP experience. Local pop-up restaurant Harley's Landing will feature our region's finest produce, seafood, and farm-fresh offerings through gourmet, handheld "bites" in a relaxed setting with a private bar and lounge seating close to the stage. Headland, Alabama's Gibson Distilling will have a tasting table in the tent, and their signature cocktail, the George & Ginger, will be served exclusively at The Oasis Tent bar.

Tickets for The Oasis Tent are $75 each. In addition to dinner, each ticket includes general admission to the event, special access to performing artists, and a 25% discount on a souvenir screen-printed poster and WMA t-shirt. Seats are limited. Reservations for The Oasis Tent can be made online at WMA's website and at the museum's front desk.

General admission tickets for Yard Party for Art are available online at WMA's websiteand at the museum's front desk for an advance price of $15. General admission tickets will be $20 at the gate on the evening of the event.

"All proceeds from Yard Party for Art will fund WMA's art education programs, which encourage lifelong learning through visual art. WMA believes that art should be accessible to all, and this event helps us to keep admission and almost all of the museum's programs completely free of charge to the general public," said Melissa Rea, WMA's development director.

Yard Party for Art's gates will open at 6 p.m., and music will begin at 6:30 p.m. Guests must be 18 years or older to attend.

For more information, call the Wiregrass Museum of Art at 334-794-3871.