Each year for the past few years a very dedicated volunteer crew lead by Russell Raffarty has hauled boxes of tiles to Wheatland, set up an elaborate work area, manned the area during festival, and then hauled the tiles home to be kiln fired as a fund raiser for Wheatland.

Hundreds of people have donated $10 apiece to paint a tile adding much needed income to Wheatland.  This year we are going to display as many of those tiles as we can on a new art project.  We are erecting four pedestals, one on each corner of the arts and crafts area.  These 4-foot stands will display the tiles on the sides and serve as the basis for artists’ sculptures to be displayed during festival in the future.  Each corner will represent a season, by color and theme, whites for winter months, greens for spring, blues for summer and reds for fall.

We will incorporate as many of the tile project tiles as we can.  The four previously constructed pillars have had some artistic design added since last year.  Preliminary planning has begun to use the tiles around the main stage.

This year Russell and his crew will be hosting the tile project once again.  He is located in the arts and crafts area, behind the raffle tent, so if you have been wanting to come and paint one, this is the y ear to do it.l  Check for the hours that the tile project is open at festival.