Tonight’s Art About Town opening party drew hundreds of folks to Main Street.
Plenty of actual art was displayed, on sidewalks and in store windows. But there were other art forms too: street performers, musicians, face painters and more.
In 5 short years, Art About Town has cemented a spot on the spring calendar. From a small Sconset Square start in 2010 to last year’s exciting reveal of Miggs Burroughs’ “Tunnel Vision” project, the late-spring event draws plenty of attention. And thousands of celebrants.
But though the opening night street party — featuring performers, dancers, live music and art demos — gets deservedly great coverage, the rest of the month-long celebration is sometimes overlooked.
At its heart, Art About Town is an homage to local artists, and their creations.
Kim Porio
Kim Porio is one such exhibitor. A 1983 Staples High School graduate and Providence College marketing major, she did not pick up a brush until 14 years ago.
But she studied well with Arlene Skutch, and learned quickly. The 2nd year of Art About Town, her application was accepted. She sold an oil painting that spring — and was thrilled.
Kim is just one of many local artists whose work is displayed — throughout the entire month — in downtown stores. When her paintings were in Loft, she sold 4.
“It’s awesome exposure,” Kim says. “People come from all over. And it’s a whole variety.”
Art About Town artists range from relative newcomers to very experienced. (Miggs Burroughs exhibited in Matsu Sushi a couple of years ago.)
Westport Downtown Merchants Association organizers are now accepting applications for this spring’s show, through March 20. A special application fee of $25 for artists up to age 25 encourages younger participants (regular fee: $35). Staples High School students are especially welcome to apply. For more information, click here.
Bad weather postponed last week’s annual Art About Town celebration.
Last night, the weather was perfect. Thousands of Westporters of all ages — including many, many kids — romped as Main Street was transformed into an art-, entertainment- and fun-filled pedestrian mall.
Posted onMay 22, 2014|Comments Off on Art About Town, Tunnel Unveiling Postponed
The Westport Downtown Merchants Association’s Art About Town opening night street party — and the unveiling of the “Tunnel Vision” pedestrian walkway project between Main Street and Parker Harding Plaza — have been postponed until next Thursday (May 29), due to the same type of weather we’ve had for way too long.
The DMA says:
We wish everyone a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and will see everyone next Thursday, when downtown Westport will be alive with original art, live music, art demonstrations, interactive art experiences for all ages, unique street performances, delicious food.
Original art by local artists is already on display, and will be for sale at select shop and restaurants until June 15.
A past scene at Art About Town.
Comments Off on Art About Town, Tunnel Unveiling Postponed
A year ago, University of Rhode Island student Austin Brodsky saw a poster for Art About Town’s street party.
The 1st-ever event — original art, live music, interactive art demonstrations, clever street performances and plenty of food and drinks — took place on a Thursday evening on Main Street.
Leonardo da Vinci and Mona Lisa (I think) and friends, last year on Main Street.
Austin — who goes by the tag “Ausltd” — already knew Westport. His graffiti-inspired clothing line is carried in local stores.
He loved the Art About Town party, and asked if he could come this year to demonstrate his “mad skillz.” (They’re far better than his spelling.)
Ausltd is not the only graffiti artist set for this year’s street party (next Thursday, May 24, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.). Brooklyn’s David Hollier will be there too. British-born but now Brooklyn based, he was awarded Best of Show (Fine Arts) at the NYC Contemporary Art Fair.
But if graffiti — award-winning or otherwise — is not your thang, no worries. There’s much more, for folks of all ages.
Dining al fresco last year, in front of Bobby Q’s.
Painters using oil, acrylic, watercolor, wax and gold (!) will explain their processes and inspirations. Potters and sculptors — including the great Peter Rubino — will pot and sculpt.
(Last year Peter turned 250 pounds of clay into a bust of Beethoven, choreographed to the 5th Symphony. This year he — Peter, not Beethoven — will add dance to the mix.)
Just another day downtown.
Meanwhile, in the New Media Lab space above Bobby Q’s, the Westport Arts Center offers a mural project/open house.
Relative Souls — a jazz/funk/rock band — will play. So will Chillingsworth, Dylan Connor and Joe Izzo, and the jazz duo Eric van Laer and Gene Pino.
The street party kicks off 3 weeks of Art About Town. After the graffiti guys and stilt-walkers leave, hundreds of original works will remain in 70 shops and restaurants. All works are juried, for sale, and on display through June 17.
Last year’s event was one of those “well-should-I-go-or-not?” deals. Crowds were not huge, but the buzz was. The Westport Downtown Merchants Association liked it too, and once again is the main sponsor.
Westport’s Main Street: It’s not just for graffiti artists anymore.
Except when we welcome them with open arms.
(For more information on Art About Town, click here.)
Peter Rubino sculpted Beethoven in 20 minutes — to the strains of “Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.” For video highlights, click the YouTube arrow below.
If you weren’t at this evening’s Art About Town event — the street festival kickoff for a display of intriguing artwork in downtown store windows — here’s what you missed:
Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa -- we think -- and friends.
No, it's not a piazza in Rome. This is dining alfresco, in front of Bobby Q's. Blue Lemon and Michele's Pies also sold food on the street.
Just another day on Main Street.
Peter Rubino sculpted Beethoven -- to the tune of his "5th Symphony." For a video of the performance, click the YouTube arrrow below.
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