Not So Square Festival

The banner greeting arrivals at the Not So Square Festival. An event that has been plagued by rain in the past, this year's festival was the first held indoors. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Vendors offered artistic products both inside and outside of the Mt. Vernon Arts and Recreation Center (The Marc) for the Not So Square Arts Festival. IHS Gardens, from Stotts City, offered jams and apple butter for sale, next to a vendor selling macrame chairs in a variety of designs and colors. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Stained glass art from Murray's Vintage Venue was offered as part of the items for sale at the Not So Square Arts Festival in Mt. Vernon. Karen Whitesell, Murray's owner, at center, and Connie Schooley, at left, explained the creations to festival goers. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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The Not So Square Festival utilized much of the space at the Mt. Vernon Arts and Recreation Center (The Marc). Above is one side of the gymnasium, which was mostly full of displays. Others were set up in the entryway and the hallway. One end of the gym was used for music, dance and theatrical performances. The facility's auditorium was used by authors making presentations on their books. Pleasant weather helped to encourage a large attendance for the day-long festival. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Tango instructor Jeffrey Maddox, from Springfield, provided a demonstration of the Argentine dance form as part of the Not So Square Festival. The annual Meet in the Middle tango festival, held in conjunction with the festival in past years, was not held this year. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Kristen Hawkins, seated at center, an artist, author and children's book illustrator, from Carthage, had samples of all her work at the Not So Square Festival. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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A major focus of the Not So Square Festival from the beginning has been to showcase local authors. Randy Turner and John Hacker, at right, both veteran writers for the Carthage Press, presented their books on the Joplin tornado, "5:41" and "Spirit of Hope. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Monett artist Cindy Lynn, with her husband, Darwin, displayed her acrylic paintings of nature scenes at the Not So Square Festival in Mt. Vernon. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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The Not So Shakespeare in the Park Players provided punny and topical humor in their takes on Shakespeare plays, such as Duncan from "Macbeth" running a donut shop. The group performed twice at the Not So Square Arts Festival. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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The music duo Rock Creek, with an Irish harp and guitar, provided music by area musicians at the Not So Square Festival. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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One of the artists offering stained and leaded glass creations at the Not So Square Festival in Mt. Vernon was Terri Bradley, of Springfield. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Expanding the offerings for viewers at the Not So Square Festival, an exhibit of artwork from Mt. Vernon students lined the hallway at the Marc. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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