Catfish Crawl Returns to SteubenvilleCatfish Crawl Returns to Steubenville The Catfish Crawl, a unique combination of art and river lore, is back in downtown Steubenville starting Monday. This year’s self-guided art walk features nine eye-catching catfish, four of which are making their debut. Each five-foot statue showcases artwork by local artists and is accompanied by “a fun or historical fact about the Ohio River.” The Catfish Crawl aims to celebrate Steubenville’s art scene and enhance its downtown area. It joins the Nutcracker Village and Eggsibition as part of the Steubenville Cultural Trust’s year-round outdoor art exhibits. Master Carver Brodie Stutzman contributed his “Escape Artist” catfish, adding to the diverse collection of catfish on display. “We’re excited to bring back the Catfish Crawl ArtWalk this summer,” said organizer Therese Nelson. “It’s a great time to showcase something new and fresh, and we love the involvement of the local artists.” Visitors can explore the catfish statues 24 hours a day, and pets are welcome on a leash. For more information, visit steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com/catfish.html.
BACK ON THE STREET — The Steubenville Cultural Trust’s Catfish Crawl returns Monday and runs through Sept. 1. This year’s self-guided art walk features nine catfish, all painted by local artists, including Brodie Stutzman, whose Escape Artist is one of four entries making its debut this year. — Contributed
STEUBENVILLE — The Catfish Crawl, a combination of art and river lore, returns to downtown Steubenville on Monday.
This year there are nine freakish catfish on display, four of which are making their debut. Next to each five-foot statue, visitors will find “a fun or historical fact about the Ohio River.”
It is the second year that this artistic walking tour takes place.
“We love the arts and have seen it bring together many people from different walks of life, in addition to adding a special beauty and vibrancy to downtown,” said event organizer Therese Nelson. “Many studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between the number of activities and events in a downtown area and the overall success of that area. Between the Nutcracker Village, the Eggsibition and now the Catfish Crawl, there is an outdoor art exhibit in downtown Steubenville 24/7 for 150 days – that’s almost half the year.
In an effort to highlight the area’s art scene, each of the catfish was painted by a local artist courtesy of the Steubenville Cultural Trust. In addition to the four new catfish on display this year, Nelson said there are five more forms in the queue for future Catfish Crawls “and (we) will determine if we need to add any more after these are on display.”
It is the latest addition to the cultural trust’s catalogue, which includes the Eggsibition exhibition at Easter, as well as the ever-popular Nutcracker Village. Nelson said Master Carver Brodie Stutzman, swamped with carving nutcrackers, didn’t have time to make the catfish shapes himself, but he did paint one, the Escape Artist.
“We’re excited to bring back the Catfish Crawl ArtWalk this summer,” Nelson said. “While we’re busy preparing the Nutcrackers for the upcoming holiday season, it’s a great time to showcase something new and fresh (and) we love the involvement of the local artists and the community we’re creating here.”
Nelson’s of Steubenville acquired the catfish and is overseeing the project for the cultural trust. Sponsors include Tri-State Financial Services, Ridge Welding and the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District.
She said the Catfish Crawl was “intended to attract visitors to downtown Steubenville for the summer months and to raise awareness for the Steubenville Cultural Trust’s winter festival, the Nutcracker Village.”
“For a first-year exhibit, the Catfish Crawl went extremely well, drawing attention from neighboring communities and creating space for multiple features in the popular Ohio Road Trips Facebook group,” she said, noting that the group has more than a million members.
“In Native American culture, the catfish symbolizes strength, adaptability, unity and community,” she said. “We feel this fits perfectly with the Steubenville Cultural Trust’s goals for the summer to bring our community downtown.”
The walking tour is free and self-guided, so guests can view the exhibitions 24 hours a day. Pets are welcome, but they must fit in with the group and be on a leash.
For information about this summer’s Catfish Crawl ArtWalk, visit steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com/catfish.html
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