In all the commotion going on at the Downtown Power Plant this Aug. 22 and 23, don’t forget to follow the flags west and south; the ArtWorks Center will be open during festival hours, and we’ve got some new art up our sleeves that you’ll want to check out.

In the upstairs galleries, we’ll celebrate new shows by Jean Formo and Mary Singer. While the opening reception (free and open to the public) is actually from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, the work will remain throughout the festival weekend.

An artist and calligrapher for 38 years, Formo is recognized for alphabet design and one-of-a-kind artist books. Her paintings and drawings include watercolor, acrylic, pastels and silverpoint. She has traveled throughout the continent (including 17 international calligraphy conferences) lecturing and teaching various workshops.

Mary Singer, who will show her work in our classroom gallery, recalls finding her first Saturday Evening idol in Norman Rockwell on the day her family received their first Post magazine. After taking classes in Minneapolis, she began to find her stride in portraits, eventually branching out into landscapes while working with everything from graphite to pen and ink. Her current focus is oils. Singer’s show — “Water, Land, and Sky”— is rooted in midwestern landscapes.

These upstairs galleries won’t be the only must-see at the corner of second and Main.

In fact, we’ve had to spill out onto the street in order to properly accommodate brand new work by a few local artists. Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, a one-day-only “trunk show” will feature wood sculptor Tom Blahnik, glass blower Nicole Fierce and painter Wendy Heimsness.

Those who have stopped by the center in the last year may recognize these names and the work associated with them; but make sure to stop by and say hello, as you’ll likely see something you never have before.

For the full schedule of ArtWorks Festival events, visit our internet home at austinareaarts.org/artworks-festival-schedule. Until next week, stay cool.