HANCOCK - Fusing art and music went so well the first two times it was done, the Finlandia University Art & Design students have decided to conduct their Fusion Fest again Saturday.
Rhonda Jones, faculty advisor for Finlandia students, said the event, which will run from noon to 6 p.m. in the university's Jutila Center for Global Design and Business, will once again feature demonstrations of art and live music. People attending can take part in various activities, such as an art scavenger hunt, group painting, tie-dying, pottery-making demonstrations and free dance lessons.
Jones said new this year is "Cookies as your Canvass" contest, which involves highly decorated cookies.
"People enter 24 of them," she said.
The cookies will be judged by Hancock City Manager Glenn Anderson, artist Joyce Koskenmaki and Duane Aho, Finlandia executive vice president and chief advancement officer. Anyone interested in taking part in the cookie contest should notify event officials no later than Wednesday by calling 487-7225, or e-mailing at fusion.fest@finlandia.edu.
Jones said the art scavenger hunt involves finding 20 famous paintings placed throughout the art department in the building. The contest is fairly popular.
"Last year we had 80 people finish," she said.
There will be children's activities during the day, also, and adults will be able to try their hand at painting.
Also during Fusion Fest, Jones said many students will be working on their thesis projects, and it may be possible to watch what their doing.
"All the studios will be open," she said.
Music will be played throughout the building, Jones said, and there will even be stand-up comedians performing.
Jones said the Fusion Fest is a fundraising event by the arts students to pay for a trip to the Self Employment in the Arts conference in Chicago. The conference, which provides information about how to make a living with art, is paid for entirely by the students. The university provides a bus for transportation.
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie@ mininggazette.com.