By Brian Kamsoke
Correspondent
NORWICH – Each year the Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival attracts 14-15,000 people to East and West Parks in downtown Norwich the first weekend after Labor Day. They enjoy a free festival of juried art and music in an interactive atmosphere featuring artist demonstrations, free arts activities, a student art exhibit, a competitive poetry slam, and creative food vending.
But there is so much more that goes on “behind the scenes” in preparation for that one weekend event. And much of it couldn’t take place without the generous support of Colorscape’s partners.
“Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival is free of charge through the generosity of our many partners,” says Colorscape Chairperson Lucy Funke. “Their extensive sponsorship of the arts contributes to the quality of the cultural life in our rural area. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our many sponsors as they help further arts education, foster civic pride, expand tourism and stimulate economic development.”
“Economic development” is not something one might relate to an arts festival. But indeed, many local businesses enjoy a noticeable boost in business during the Colorscape weekend.
“We always have an increase in customer traffic during the Colorscape weekend,” says Bill Tyrrell, owner of Smith Ford, LLC, whose generous support allows for the popular Colorscape T-shirts. “Colorscape is great for the community.”
Funke says there are well over 50 business partners whose financial support makes Colorscape possible. She wishes she could mention each of them individually, but encourages attendees at this year’s Colorscape to look for them in the program book and on tent and stage banners where their names are proudly listed and displayed.
Many of the partners have been associated with Colorscape for years, while others, such as New York Central Mutual Insurance and Morrisville College, are new. “Through their enthusiastic support of Colorscape they have demonstrated their willingness to give back to our community,” Funke says.
Of course, soliciting financial support for each year’s Colorscape is something that begins very early in the year (as early as February). This task generally falls to Colorscape’s Executive Director Lisa Iannello.
“The local businesses have always been very supportive of Colorscape,” says Iannello. “NBT Bank, P&G Pharmaceuticals, Golden Artist Colors, Price Chopper, and of course, the local media, The Evening Sun and Pennysaver, ID and now WSKG, have been very helpful,” she says.
It’s true, many local businesses and institutions, such as the City of Norwich, Bagnall Electric, Yellowbook, Pro-Tel and the Label Gallery have supported Colorscape for many years. But much support also comes from local and national foundations. The responsibility of applying for these grants also falls to the executive director.
“Just like any non-profit, we’re always looking for new business partners and sources of funding,” says Iannello. “This year, we were able to secure a grant by Poets and Writers, Inc., part of the New York State Council on the Arts.”
This first time grant allowed Colorscape to bring Roger Bonair Agard, a two-time National Poetry Slam Champion, to Norwich to participate in the annual Poetry Slam as part of Colorscape held at the Blarney Stone on South Broad Street beginning noon on Saturday.
“Performance poetry has been growing by leaps and bounds across the country,” says Richard Bernstein, Norwich poet and teacher, Colorscape board member, and organizer of the event. “Each year has seen an increase in our attendance. The reason is that we’re fortunate to combine local talent with some of the biggest names in performance poetry.”
The Literary Arts tent will also feature book signings by local and national authors: children’s authors Suzanne Bloom, William Guiffre, and Lynn Morris, novelist Lynne Epstein, and poet Paul Sheldon.
Planning for events and entertainment during Colorscape weekend is also something that takes place months in advance. Individual Colorscape board members take responsibility for coordinating specific events based on their own interest and expertise. Bernstein, for example, organized the first poetry slam as part of Colorscape seven years ago. Ken Millett, owner of the Night Eagle Café in Binghamton, is the musical coordinator, who every year arranges to bring some of the biggest musical entertainers in the country to downtown Norwich for Colorscape weekend.
But Colorscape is fortunate to attract new members to its board that add fresh perspectives and ideas to existing events. Nicole Mazzole, a local artist herself, is organizing this year’s Student Art exhibit at the Council for the Arts on West Main Street during Colorscape weekend.
“She brings new energy and insight to Colorscape, and we’re fortunate to have her as a board member,” says Colorscape President Peggy Finnegan.
New to Colorscape this year is the “Francis K. Wilcox Scholarship to Emerging Young Artists.” Recipients this year, Jessica Johnnes of New Berlin and Paige Wissenbach of Earlville, will each receive $350 to further their arts education after high school; they will, as well, receive $100 gift certificates to Golden Artist Colors products and will exhibit and sell their work along with the many other artists during Colorscape weekend.
Of course, it is the artists themselves which are the foundation of Colorscape. And this year, nearly 90 juried artists will exhibit and demonstrate their work in East and West Parks, West Main Street, and the new East Main Annex in the Hayes parking lot in downtown Norwich.
“We have many returning artists and many new artists as well,” says Finnegan, who also serves as Colorscape’s Visual Arts Coordinator. “We attract many talented artists from across New York State, but we also have artists from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and yes, even one from Washington State!”
The exhibitors are professional artists whose work has been widely recognized, such as that of Evelyn Dankovich. Her painting, “River View,” received the Grand Prize Award at the Cooperstown Art Association 73rd Annual National.
“This is quite a feather in her cap,” says Finnegan. “But this is just one example of the many talented artists we have here at Colorscape. All the artists’ work here is exceptional.”
The variety and quality of artwork that will be on display and available for purchase is truly impressive: quilts and wall hangings, ceramics, sculptures, stained glass, photography, woodworking, paintings (watercolor and acrylics), drawings and pastels, metalwork, jewelry, purses and bags, wearable fiber, stoneware, and so much more.
Some of these exhibitors will receive Fine Arts Awards presented at the Colorscape Awards Breakfast Sunday morning. This year’s judges include Betty Fraley, a graduate of SUNY Oneonta in studio art who has taught painting for 30 years, James Loveless, Professor Emeritas of Colgate University, who paints acrylic landscapes and abstractions and has been painting and exhibiting for 50 years, and Maxine Rosenberg, an art teacher with experience on all grade levels for the past 22 years at Susquehanna Valley, Brookside Elementary.
Finnegan has been the sole coordinator of the visual arts for 13 years, just as Bernstein and Millett have coordinated the poetry slam and musical lineup. But other Colorscape board members accept new tasks. Pat Pirrone, a longtime Colorscape board member, organized this year’s Culinary Arts.
“You won’t leave Colorscape hungry, that’s for sure,” says Pirrone.
Indeed, from delicious treats to hearty meals, you’ll find it at Colorscape: the New York Almond Company (bet you can’t eat just one), the Chenango County SPCA Ives Cream (one scoop or two?), Taste of Aloha (15 flavors of shaved ice), B&B Kettle Korn (do we need to say more?), Traveler’s Kitchen (potato pancakes, spinach-feta quesadillas and portabella-lime wrap, just to mention a few), Chenango Memorial Hospital (Greek Pita Gyro, Greek Pasta Salad, and more), On The Street (Chicken Pita, Souvlaki Pita, Falafel Pita, and Greek Gyro), Angelo’s ( Sausage, Pepper and Onion Subs, Fried Dough, and more), and of course, wash it all down at the Serendipity Café in West Park with flavored coffees and homemade cookies.
There will be Culinary Arts Awards dished out as well during Colorscape, sponsored by Hoppies’s and The Parson’s Daughter.
Of course, there is always much to do at Colorscape for children as well. There are two Art Zones, one for children under 10 and one for age 10 and up. Children participate in mask making, discover the relationship of chemistry and art with “glitter slime” and “tie-dyed butterflies,” or decorate kites with colored pencils or ink stamps of plants and animals.
Also, the East Park Children’s Stage features Elizabeth Orleski, djembe instructor and performer presenting “African Drum Jam for Children,” and a Children’s Talent Show, where kids and teens are invited to sing, dance, play guitar, tell jokes and juggle.
As well, there are many things going on during Colorscape that don’t garner as much attention, such as the work of “facilities.” Colorscape board member Joe Coe spends Colorscape weekend coordinating the set-up and tear down, and makes sure each exhibitor has access to the electric they need, and delivers supplies and water to both parks, amongst many other tasks. (Note: Joe is the one you’ll always see on the tractor).
And of course, when Colorscape is over, there is the tear down and trash removal. This year, Colorscape has gone “green” with its new recycled shopping bags and recycling bins, the brainchild of Colorscape board member Jane Clement. Look for the Colorscape “green” sponsors at this year’s Colorscape.
“There are truly so many people involved behind the scenes at Colorscape,” says Iannello. “The C-Scapers (Colorscape members and volunteers), of course, whose time and effort is greatly appreciated, and board members who handle our legal, financial, and advertising needs, and others who arrange for hospitality and volunteers. It really is a community effort that makes Colorscape possible.”
Free musical entertainment from national and international recording artists, a competitive poetry slam, over 80 juried artists, creative food vending, and literary and art activities for all ages: it’s all made possible by the generous support of Colorscape partners, dedicated board members, C-Scapers and the very well appreciated efforts of numerous volunteers.