A new and curious addition to the Mineral Point 4th of July Parade was the group from AMP (Arts Mineral Point) as they created paintings whilst walking down High Street.

They were promoting the First Annual Paint Out, which will take place this weekend.

The idea for the Paint Out is for artists to get outside and paint our historic town and the scenic surroundings of the Driftless region this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday August 7, 8, & 9, 2014.

Maybe they will paint the Wisconsin High School Rodeo taking place at the Fairgrounds, or Jammin’ on The Porch at Orchard Lawn on Friday night, or the hundreds of bicyclists riding through Mineral Point Saturday morning as part of the Dairyland Dare (see the new Mineral Point route below).

The completed works of art will be on display Saturday and offered for sale at three sponsoring galleries: Bottle Works, Longbranch, and Wantoot.  Paintings will be judged by a jury committee and nearly $3000 will be awarded in cash and prizes.

Artists can still register, by clicking here.

The Paint Out is just one of the innovative ideas of AMP, a newly formed not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to “nurture and promote the arts in Mineral Point.”  Last October, AMP created the sculpture garden at the top of High Street.  They are also promoting arts incubation to provide additional incentive for artists to move to Mineral Point.

The First Annual Paint Out is just one example of how AMP is amping up the arts scene in Mineral Point.

– Contributed by the Hays