Thursday, August 7, 2008 1:34 PM EDT
Mystic Arts festival
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Celebrating creativity
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 Brett Swanson holds two of his latest comic books which will be on display at the Art Festival this weekend. Photos by Elizabeth Yerkes/MRP |
Just when you thought you’d seen it all, the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival comes around to surprise you.
This year, more than 280 artists and crafters will exhibit their work in the annual juried show. Local nonprofit organizations, such as the Mystic Lions Club and the Boy Scouts, will sell food and drinks to raise money.
Each exhibitor submitted five photographs of his work to the jury of three people. Selected artists include photographers, ceramic, metal and wood sculptors and painters using oil, watercolor, acrylic and pastel media. Crafters showing their wares this year include fiber artists, weavers and quilters.
Local cartoonist and painter Brett E. Swanson will return with new issues of his “Powerkid!” comic book series and other cartoon art.
Swanson, a Mystic post office worker, has published cartoon strips for local newspapers and national magazines. His booth can again be found near Liberty Square flagpole.
Lucille Scelfo, a silk marbler, will exhibit her scarves and men’s neckties this year. The marbleizing process could be daunting to some as it involves white silk, lots of washing, chemicals and paint. It also requires fine coordination to comb the marbling paint into finely detailed patterns on top of a thick solution. Dancing curls and impossible hairlines grace these scarves and ties that come in many colors. “Silk is tough stuff,” said Scelfo, and all her work is permanently set and h a n d washable.
Self taught metal sculptor Ron Stinson makes table and wall sculptures as well as fountains in his Pennsylvania studio. Whether designs of trees, vines and flowers, or abstract steel, bronze and glass wall hangings, Stinson begins a sculpture by using hand shears or a plasma torch to cut down the raw stock metal to a manageable size. Forming it with hammers, Stinson then brazes pieces together with any one of several torches. Finishing pieces with chemical patinas or paints he said “creates surfaces with endless shades of green, blues, burgundies, gold and silver, lending an organic quality to each.” All pieces are protected with a weatherproof coat to diminish degradation by the elements.
Although booths will line the main streets on both sides of the Mystic River and spill into the side streets, art and jewelry lovers strolling along the Stonington side can find at least one art shop open. Tucked away next to CVS at 29 Broadway is The Art Garden. Owner and artist Jules Heerlein makes chunky turquoise pieces with Thai silver, Venetian bead creations and Raku fish sculpture. Other galleries and stores on the Groton side of the river will be open for shoppers as well.
The Children’s Art Park will have activities on both sides of the river.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the Mystic Arts Center will offer refreshments and family friendly activities including chalk art, a gallery Eye-Spy mystery, face painting and blowing bubbles on the terrace.
Complete an Eye-Spy for a chance to win a family membership, adult workshop or children’s class at the Mystic Arts Center KTJ Studios.
On the Stonington side in Mystic River Park, the Children’s Art Park will offer a variety of crafts for children and their parents. Stonington High School students will paint faces too. The Children’s Art Park in Mystic River Park will operate on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Outdoor Art Festival began in 1957 when Milton Baline, cousin of Irving Berlin, and other art lovers proposed the idea that Mystic pattern a festival after the famous Washington Square Festival in New York.
The 51st annual Mystic Outdoor Art Festival will be held Aug. 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Some local churches offer parking for a fee, but your best bet is to snag an available space on approach roads.
For more information visit www.mysticchamber.org or call (860) 572-9578.
This year, more than 280 artists and crafters will exhibit their work in the annual juried show. Local nonprofit organizations, such as the Mystic Lions Club and the Boy Scouts, will sell food and drinks to raise money.
Each exhibitor submitted five photographs of his work to the jury of three people. Selected artists include photographers, ceramic, metal and wood sculptors and painters using oil, watercolor, acrylic and pastel media. Crafters showing their wares this year include fiber artists, weavers and quilters.
Local cartoonist and painter Brett E. Swanson will return with new issues of his “Powerkid!” comic book series and other cartoon art.
Swanson, a Mystic post office worker, has published cartoon strips for local newspapers and national magazines. His booth can again be found near Liberty Square flagpole.
Lucille Scelfo, a silk marbler, will exhibit her scarves and men’s neckties this year. The marbleizing process could be daunting to some as it involves white silk, lots of washing, chemicals and paint. It also requires fine coordination to comb the marbling paint into finely detailed patterns on top of a thick solution. Dancing curls and impossible hairlines grace these scarves and ties that come in many colors. “Silk is tough stuff,” said Scelfo, and all her work is permanently set and h a n d washable.
Self taught metal sculptor Ron Stinson makes table and wall sculptures as well as fountains in his Pennsylvania studio. Whether designs of trees, vines and flowers, or abstract steel, bronze and glass wall hangings, Stinson begins a sculpture by using hand shears or a plasma torch to cut down the raw stock metal to a manageable size. Forming it with hammers, Stinson then brazes pieces together with any one of several torches. Finishing pieces with chemical patinas or paints he said “creates surfaces with endless shades of green, blues, burgundies, gold and silver, lending an organic quality to each.” All pieces are protected with a weatherproof coat to diminish degradation by the elements.
Although booths will line the main streets on both sides of the Mystic River and spill into the side streets, art and jewelry lovers strolling along the Stonington side can find at least one art shop open. Tucked away next to CVS at 29 Broadway is The Art Garden. Owner and artist Jules Heerlein makes chunky turquoise pieces with Thai silver, Venetian bead creations and Raku fish sculpture. Other galleries and stores on the Groton side of the river will be open for shoppers as well.
The Children’s Art Park will have activities on both sides of the river.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the Mystic Arts Center will offer refreshments and family friendly activities including chalk art, a gallery Eye-Spy mystery, face painting and blowing bubbles on the terrace.
Complete an Eye-Spy for a chance to win a family membership, adult workshop or children’s class at the Mystic Arts Center KTJ Studios.
On the Stonington side in Mystic River Park, the Children’s Art Park will offer a variety of crafts for children and their parents. Stonington High School students will paint faces too. The Children’s Art Park in Mystic River Park will operate on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Outdoor Art Festival began in 1957 when Milton Baline, cousin of Irving Berlin, and other art lovers proposed the idea that Mystic pattern a festival after the famous Washington Square Festival in New York.
The 51st annual Mystic Outdoor Art Festival will be held Aug. 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Some local churches offer parking for a fee, but your best bet is to snag an available space on approach roads.
For more information visit www.mysticchamber.org or call (860) 572-9578.
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