• Business on the Rocks
  di Fratelli, 211 Broadway
  Thursdays in July & August. 5:30 pm
• Centering and Healing Art Weekly Classes and Workshops
  Paducah Yoga Center, 627 Broadway
• Second Saturday Gallery Walk
  2nd Saturday of each month,
  LowerTown Arts District. Noon-8 pm
• Downtown After Dinner
  Saturdays, Broadway, from 5th St. to the Riverfront. 7-10 pm
• Farmer's Market, 2nd and Monroe
  Monday-Saturday, 7:30 am-3:30 pm
• LowerTown Tai Chi, Texaco Station
  3rd Saturday of each month, 7:30-8:15 am
• Paducah Writer's Group Reading
  Etcetera Coffeehouse, 7:30-10:30 pm

• 1 - Quick Trip Quilt Class by Paula Spillman, Quilt in a Day, 119 N. 4th St 10am-4pm
• 4 & 11 - Wastelanders Art Show
  126 South 2nd St, 1-4pm
• 7 - Quilts Through the Seasons Class by Susan Marlier, Quilt in a Day, 119 N. 4th St 10am-4pm
• 7 - Paint Your Palate: An evening of food, wine & art
  Jasmine Restaurant's new Paducah location, 6pm
• 11 - New Works in Wood
  Aspire Arts, Noon-8pm
• 11 - Work by Local Artist, Jamie Strong The Egg & I, 335 N. 6th St, Noon-8pm
• 11 - Water Magic & Watermelon Working Artist Studio, 303 N. 8th St
  Noon-8pm
• 14–17 Quilt Camp, In-between Class. National Quilt Museum 9:30-Noon
• 15 - Dessert Time Quilting Class
  by Paula Spillman, Quilt in a Day
  119 N. 4th St. 10am-4pm
• 15, 22 & 29th - July Day Camp, Wednesdays on the Waterfront: 3rd to 5th graders River Discovery Center
• 18 - WKCTC A La Carte Cooking Class Downtown Farmer's Market 10am
• 18 - Reception for Alonzo Davis Pinecone Art Gallery, 419 N. 7th Street 6 to 8 p.m.
• 23-26 - Paducah Summer Festival
  The Carson Center Lawn
• 25 - River Town Reading Series Yeiser Art Center, 8 p.m.
• 25 - Kids Day in the Arts – "Passport to the World",
  The National Quilt Museum. 9am-3pm
• 25 - Free Admission Day during the Paducah Summer Festival
  The National Quilt Museum 10am-5pm
• 29 - Quilting Classes: New Lovers Knot taught by Paula Spillman, Quilt in a Day, 119 N. 4th Street 10 am-4 pm

• Wood-O-Rama
  Deadline for entries is August 8
  Exhibit runs from Oct 9 - Nov 7
  Yeiser Art Center
  
  Missoula Children's Theatre Auditions & Workshop for production of Alice In Wonderland, Carson Center
  
  

• July 2009
  June 2009
  May 2009
  April 2009
  March 2009
  February 2009
  January 2009
  December 2008
  November 2008
  October 2008
  September 2008
  August 2008
  July 2008
  June 2008
  May 2008
  April 2008
  March 2008

But Cruz is not in Paducah simply to relax and do some chores around the studio. This summer she is participating in the Artist in Residence Program, a program which seeks to broaden the scope of the art scene in Paducah. The program is coordinated by the Paducah Arts Alliance.

In fact, Cruz’s stay in the LowerTown Arts District, while refreshing, provided an intense time of creating art. In June, Cruz led a collaborative project in which she invited local artists to join her in creating talismans, charms which possess strong influence over human emotion or action.

The artists were instructed to create a talisman for themselves and one for the collaborative piece they created. The goal of the project was to create a sense of community among the artists and to allow them to feed off of one another's creative energy.

Each artist assigned their own meaning to their talisman. For Cruz, talismans symbolize hope. She anticipates that something good is always just a day away. She also uses talismans as a form of prayer. "They are a form of prayer in action," said Cruz.

Her peaceful spirit is contagious to those who are privileged to get to know her. It's as if, when in Paducah, she steps out of herself for a few weeks to enjoy some much needed food for her soul.

Cruz has been coming to Paducah for the past three years in order to focus on creating art. A stay in Paducah allows Cruz time to create art without the distraction of her usual urban lifestyle in Portland, OR.

Cruz was first introduced to Paducah's LowerTown Arts District in the spring of 2006 by Alonzo Davis, a nationally-acclaimed mixed media artist who participated in Paducah's Artist Relocation Program. Davis met Cruz about eight years ago at an opening she held at The Hammons House Museum in Atlanta.

"I was struck by her strong sense of color, patterning, and design. Her fabric work was like a painting that had a multicultural emphasis," said Davis.

He was so impressed with Cruz that he invited her to visit Paducah and to consider making an extended stay at A.I.R. Studio to learn more about the Artist Relocation Program.

Cruz accepted his invitation and thus began what has become an annual journey in which Cruz seeks to focus, undistracted, on her art.

"I didn't know anything about Paducah until Alonzo invited me to come. I loved it immediately. Paducah is like a Mayberry for artists," said Cruz. "It's quiet and filled with friendly, supportive artists.

Cruz enjoys the unique nature of Paducah’s LowerTown Arts District. During her time in Paducah she has been fed by the creative energy that exists in the LowerTown Arts District.

"There is a shared energy among artists - a communion of similar spirits. Everybody bounces off of each other," she said. "You don't feel like you're the odd neighbor."

Growing up in New York City, Cruz developed a love for art at a young age. She studied at the High School of Art & Design where she was introduced to ceramics and sculpture. She advanced to the School of Visual Arts, again studying sculpture and earning a scholarship for college.

As Cruz began exploring the various forms and techniques of art she discovered a great love of color and even began designing her own wearable art. Being recognized as an artist in New York City was challenging.

As her talents grew Cruz moved to Portland, OR, and began selling her wearable art at boutiques and was soon discovered by a gallery owner who wanted to feature her wearable exhibits

"I'd never thought of clothes as art," said Cruz, who now has work on display around the country.

Cruz uses art to free her spirit and cannot remember a time when art was not a healing agent in her life.

"Art is very freeing. It's been my saving grace. It's medicinal…a safe place," said Cruz.

Spending a few weeks in the LowerTown Arts District once a year is a way for artists like Cruz to take a step back from their daily grind and focus on things that help inspire creativity. For more information on the programs offered in Paducah please contact Monica Bilak at mbilak@ci.paducah.ky.us or visit www.paducaharts.com.