On Friday, the first of what could be a series of monthly art events in Leavenworth will premier in the Lee’s Furniture building at 220 S. Fifth St.

According to Janice King, the event was developed by a group calling itself the First City Art Attack, a small group of volunteers from around the city who want to make Leavenworth a more supportive place for local art.

The Art Attack, from 5 to 9 p.m., will feature about 20 artists from throughout Leavenworth County in a showcase of local talent, King said. The event is scheduled to coordinate with Leavenworth Main Street Program’s First City Open House and is free and open to the public.

King said the idea of hosting a countywide art showcase has been around for about a decade, although solid plans never materialized until the group took the idea to the Leavenworth County Artists Association.

“Its time has come,” she said. “Someone needs to lead the way and we’re doing it.”

King said the event will be a good opportunity for artists in Leavenworth County to show and sell their artwork.

Registering to show artwork during the event is free, King said. She encouraged any artists in Leavenworth County to sign up by calling 913-682-2752 or by e-mailing lvnartattack@aol.com.
Live music, beverages and food will also be part of the event on Friday.

King said the second Art Attack is already scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 12.

She said the group hopes to offer more than just the opportunity to support local artists. Friday’s event will include interactive artworks like a mural that visitors can help paint, as well as a mosaic that visitors can help assemble with scraps of vinyl.

“We always want to have something interactive,” King said.

King said she hopes the event will help foster an arts community in the city.

For Dale Winetroub, the owner of the building, the Art Attack is something of a second act for the historic property. The 50,000-square-foot space was built in 1893 and housed Lee’s Furniture from 1961 until July, when the business closed.

King said the building has a historic character that the organizers were looking for. Also, though the event on Friday will use only a portion of the first floor, Winetroub said additional space in the building might also be used in the future for things like a dance studio or a performance space for local music events.

“What we’d love to see for this building is an event center that is for big events,” King said.

Winetroub said space in the building is available for lease, but he intends to host Art Attack and other events there until somebody rents it.

“We’re really open to a lot of different possibilities,” he said.