Two New Downtown Attractions: Downtown Rogers businesses are invited to host either of two new public art installations that will further attract patrons to the Downtown community. Both projects will be published and promoted in news releases, on social media, and on websites inviting people to experience the many amenities in Downtown Rogers. Participants in the January DTR Merchant MeetUp met the artists and had the first opportunity to sign up to be locations for these art installations. 

Enter our 3rd Space: The Rogers Lowell Chamber and Art on the Bricks received a 3^rd space grant to infuse art and cultural activities to attract more people to Downtown Rogers. The Chamber is seeking interested property owners to participate in two art trails in our historic downtown community. There is no cost to provide a location for either of the works of art. Also, the Chamber will handle the application process if an installation is sought within the boundaries of the Rogers Commercial Historic District.

Put the pedal to the metal: Tom "The Happy Man" Flynn is a sculptor and found metal artist living in Rogers, Arkansas. He was invited to create metal sculptures of lightning bugs to be installed in several locations in Downtown Rogers. The overgrown fireflies are fabricated from old steel oxygen tanks and illuminated with an industrial vapor light. For outdoor installations, the creature may be fitted with a solar string light to resemble a a jar of lightning bugs or with a solar blinking flame light. If the bugs are installed indoors and plugged into an outlet, they may be fitted with a programmable LED bulb with a remote control offering programmable options for various colors. 

• Flynn's metal sculptures, inspired by flora and ‘fauna’ of Northwest Arkansas, are fanciful, comical and charming.
• Flynn believes lightning bugs add a sense of wonder and joy to Northwest Arkansas.
• The metal sculptures are fabricated in Flynn's using discarded oxygen tanks and pieces and parts from his workshop. 
• The lightning bugs will be illuminated and placed in unexpected locations for visitors and shoppers to discover.

Piecing Together Public Art in DTR: The Rogers Lowell Chamber and Art on the Bricks Art Walk have teamed up with the Arkansas Quilt Trails to invite you to participate in the multi-year Benton County Barn Quilt exhibition. During the third Thursday MeetUp, Benton County coordinator for the Arkansas Quilt Trails, Mechel Wall, presented a work in progress and explained the opportunity to host painted wood barn quilts at business locations in Downtown Rogers. 

• The Chamber can provide grant funds to pay for supplies to make several painted quilts on a 4’ x 4’ board.
• We are seeking DTR locations to install the Quilts for up to 5 years.
• The first quilt is a community art project that began during the January Art Walk
• 43 states have barn quilt tours and they are sought out by visitors
• This is an opportunity for your business to be included as a destination location in this statewide tour.

Stretching to grow business: In 2023, the Rogers Lowell Chamber tracked 59 businesses that offered 167 experiences that went beyond selling goods and services. Some of these included book clubs, dance and fitness classes, live music, pop-up shops and creative classes.

A growing number of Downtown Rogers businesses are connecting with community by showcasing their businesses as a welcoming Third Space destination locations with unique and interactive culinary, art, shopping, and entertainment experiences. The Chamber is happy to help you discover how you can engage in the Downtown Rogers experience. Reach out to Karen Wagaman at [email protected] or call 479-619-3195 for information. 

Thank you to NWA Media and Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette for providing photos for this article.