NORWICH – Despite some early afternoon showers on Sunday and approximately 20 exhibitor cancellations – due to last week’s widespread flooding – the 17th annual Colorscape Chenango Arts Festivals was ultimately a success, according to the event’s organizers.
Thousands of people made their way to East and West Parks Saturday for the yearly festival’s opening day, which featured a wide variety of musical, culinary, visual, literary and fine arts.
Said Colorscape Executive Director Peggy Finnegan, “I think people were tired of all the rain, all of the flooding and just needed something to feel happy about.”
Local guitarist, singer and songwriter L.J. Gates kicked things off at 10 a.m. Saturday from the new, permanent stage in East Park. The festival’s opening ceremony followed, which saw Evening Sun editor Jeff Genung receive the 2011 “Colors-Cape” for his years of commitment to the event. Performances by Driftwood, The Dust Poets, Ellis Paul, Caravan of Thieves and McPeake filled out the opening day musical entertainment. The gypsy swing of Caravan of Thieves and the Irish folk of McPeak received the most praise from festival-goers, said Finnegan. The beautiful weather on Saturday, she added, contributed to the day’s shoulder-to-shoulder crowds in East Park.
On Sunday, overcast skies and chillier temperatures couldn’t keep dedicated fans of Colorscape from attending. The event’s popular Gospel Show – led by Philadelphia’s Kim and Reggie Harris – had the crowd of die-hard music lovers clapping and singing along. The Guy Mendilow Band took to the stage next, performing its unique, one-of-a-kind blend of old-world music, much of which was performed in its native, Ladino tongue. Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter’s catchy mix of country, folk and pop followed, prior to first-time Colorscape act Runa’s 9/11 tribute and performance, and headliners the Horseshoe Lounge Playboys.
Exhibitors Lis and Mike Barsuglia-Madsen said they don’t know how Colorscape’s organizers – and hundreds of dedicated volunteers – pull it off year after year.
“We came down expecting doom and gloom,” said Lis Barsuglia-Madsen. “We had a great show and ... if the floods had not happened, I’d expect this year to be the best ever. Colorscape keeps getting better for us.”
Jeweler and exhibitor Donald Meixner called this year’s festival “another apparently flawless” event.
“I know from experience that what flawless looks like on the surface is often a tangled mess underneath,” said Meixner, who added it takes a lot of dedication to make something so complicated look so easy.
A pair of newcomers to the festival – Matt Horner of Horner Stone and Brian Harnett of Harnett Designs – took home top honors for Best in Show and Best Booth, with their respective talents in stone sculpture and chainsaw art.
Horner, who heard about the festival from a fellow vendor earlier in the year, said the win “feels awesome” and he was “very, very flattered.”
“I think this is an absolutely fantastic festival,” added the Keene-based artist, who specializes in stone sculpture and carved stone vessels. “The hospitality has been the best I’ve ever seen at any festival.”
Grahamsville-based Harnett agreed and said he was “very surprised” by his win.
“It’s our first time here so we’re very happy about the recognition, and I must say I’m very impressed with this event as well; it’s the best we’ve seen so far this year,” he added. “Everything is well organized, they have a great support system in place and it’s been very nice all around.”
On the culinary side, Traveler’s Kitchen and Norwich Rotary took top honors in the Best Taste of Colorscape and Best Booth categories, respectively. Pete Wittko of the Ithaca-based Traveler’s Kitchen said it’s the first award of this kind the group has ever earned.
“I know we’ve been mentioned for awards in the past but we’ve never brought this one home,” added Wittko, who said this year marks the kitchen’s fifth at Colorscape. “We’ve been so busy we haven’t been able to leave the stand.”
Sabine Krummel of Krummel Paintings, another five-time exhibitor at the festival, said she had left Binghamton not knowing if she’d be able to make it, due to last week’s weather. She added she’s glad she did, however, as it’s “one of the best shows” of its kind.
“They treat us extremely well and that’s really encouraging for all the artists,” said the artist. “They have such a wonderful group of volunteers, the new parks are lovely and the new stage is incredible.”
Considering last week’s flooding and subsequent road closures, it’s impossible not to see the 17th annual Colorscape as a success, said Finnegan. The comments she’s received, she added, have been entirely positive.
“It was another successful Colorscape,” said Finnegan. “We were down a touch from last year, as far as attendance goes, but that’s to be expected with last week’s weather. I think the thing I’ve heard the most is that it’s gone better than expected, so we’re pretty happy.”
The newly renovated parks, she added, were a huge improvement, and one she and her fellow organizers are looking to take advantage of next year.
“For our first year in the new park, it’s gone really well. We have some small, logistical things to address next year, things that you just don’t anticipate, but all around it was a great time.”
For more information on Colorscape Chenango call 334-3378 or visit www.colorscape.org.