The 19th annual Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday in downtown Norwich and is expected to draw more than 10,000 people throughout the weekend.
Colorscape is a free, interactive festival that features musicians, art activities for all ages, film, poetry, dance, food and craft vending, and of course art.
“I love it all, but my favorite aspect of the festival is all of the art,” said Peggy Finnegan, who has served as executive director of the festival for 15 years.
In addition to the numerous art exhibits, Finnegan noted the Student Art Exhibit, sponsored by the Otis A. Thompson Foundation and The R.C. Smith Foundation, and the Preferred Mutual Insurance Company. The work will be on display in the Mareia Brown Callery at the Chenango Arts Council. The awards will be presented at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Attendees also look forward to the various food vendors, many of whom are no strangers to the festival. A wide array of food choices are available and include but are not limited to: little neck clams, vegetarian dishes, hamburgers, chicken spiedies, caramel corn, Hawaiian shaved ice, pita sandwiches, roasted nuts, wine ice cream, and pulled pork.
Exhibitors in the both the East and West Parks offer arts in mediums such as stained glass, jewelry, sculptures, ceramics, photography, woodwork, purses, metalwork, rope bowls and even chainsaw art.
The Literary Arts area is set to be one with a lot of action and excitement, according to Finnegan. Saturday, fiction writer Dustin Warburton will be holding a book signing. Warburton is a Chenango County native who is nationally and internationally known for his writing of the story for the Hollywood film Spiders, and for co-writing the popular children’s book “Dennis the Wild Bull” with NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman. Another local author, Suzanne Bloom, will also be in attendance for book signing. The schedule of time will be posted at the booth.
WSKG Radio’s outreach staff will be at the Literacy Area on Sunday.
“Colorscape sponsor WSKG invites you to visit their mobile studio in the Literary Arts Booth to help record a radio postcard from Colorscape. What color are you most passionate about; what stirs the memories or fires the blood? Share your most colorful feelings with the WSKG radio postcard,” said Finnegan. “Don’t be shy; stop by on Sunday and the public radio team will tell you more.”
The Francis K. Wilcox Scholarship Awards for Emerging Young Artists will be presented to three students this year. Jessica Russo of Oxford Academy, Tara Murphy of the Perkins School of the Arts, and Megan Viera of Sherburne-Earlville Central School. Viera’s sister will be accepting the award in her place as she is recovering from an automobile accident that took place in early August. Each winner will receive a $350 cash award and a $100 gift certificate donated by Golden Artist Colors.
The Dance Stage will feature the internationally acclaimed Perkins School of the Arts. Visitors will be given a chance to learn technique, view videos of competitions and recitals and students from the studio will be present to demonstrate. The professional dancers will showcase their work at 11 a.m. on the West Park Interactive Stage.
The 12th Annual Competitive Poetry Slam is slated for 2-5 p.m. at The Blarney Stone Pub, 26 South Broad Street. The featured poet this year is Dana Jaye, who lives in Brooklyn and is pursuing her Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry at Rutgers-Newark. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult as some mature language may be used, and ID is required for the purchase of alcoholic beverages.
Art zones will be in two locations throughout the parks, where parents and children are encouraged to stop by and check out the various activities offered.
The musical entertainment is another reason many will flock to downtown’s parks this weekend. A full schedule of performers is in this edition of The Evening Sun.
Finnegan extended gratitude to all of the partners and sponsors of the festival, which is the reason Colorscape is free to all who wish to attend.
The organizers work ten months throughout the year, said Finnegan, and all the committee members and volunteers work very hard to make the event a success.
Finnegan added there is always work to be done, and if anyone would like to volunteer they are more than welcome. Anyone who volunteers will receive a Colorscape t-shirt, she said.
Colorscape t-shirts will be available for purchase for those not volunteering and will be at the merchandise booth.
The ever-popular Colorscape bus will of course be on the premises, said Finnegan.
“Very few people walk past the bus without stopping to take a look,” she noted. “People will even sit behind the wheel for ‘photo ops’ or check out the art work all over it. It’s great.”
For further information and the complete schedule of vendors, exhibits, performers and interactive entertainment visit colorscape.org.