Music, Art, Fun Draw Folks to Festival
Staff report - Salisbury Post - June 17, 2007
Blue Mama and her "smoking three piece orchestra" had everybody jumping along Easy Street late Saturday afternoon.
Everybody from kids barely out of diapers to seniors were shaking their hips and shoulders as they moved their feet to the jazz.
Mother Blues, Pat Cohen, drew a raucous roar of approval as she introduced her band, adding their name to a song, "Bobby ain't got no drawers on." And then it was Ricky's turn and so on.
"It's just getting good," said Cheryl Goins, a local artist who exhibited and sold pottery during the day-long Art on Easy Street, the fourth year of the arts festival sponsored by the Rowan Arts Council.
She would like to see the festival keep going until 8 p.m. or later. It now ends at 6 p.m.
"It would be wonderful if it went later in the evening. That would draw a younger crowd," said Goins, who has participated for three years.
George Thompson of Monroe had to visit the Hefner VA Medical Center Saturday morning.
While in Salisbury, he thought he would take a look at the festival.
"I've been here all day. This is good," said Thompson, who found himself a comfortable perch on a rock wall surrounding the "Cook Garden."
"The entertainment has been really good," said Thompson, who praised the Rowan Arts Council for the overall event that included painting, crafts and activities for children in the Trolley Barn. "A lot of kids had a lot of fun."
As he listened to Mother Blues, he wasn't in a hurry to leave. "This is really nice, it's got some panache," he said.
A warm, yet overcast day kept the temperatures down, providing a break from last year's sizzling heat.
Dozens of vendors offered an array of handmade items from jewelry to walking sticks. Some vendors demonstrated their skills on-site.
Business was pretty good for Natashia Caine of Wilmington. It was her first year at the festival.
"Business was good in the morning ... it died out later," said Caine, who works festivals every weekend.
The hit of the festival may have been a large black labrador retriever mix called Mr. Bear.
He ambled about prompting his owner, M.T. Sidoli, to make lots of introductions.
"Mr. Bear's spreading the love," said Sidoli.
A certified therapy dog, Mr. Bear brings smiles to the residents of Liberty Commons, where Sidoli works.
By the time Sidoli opted to have a tattoo on her arm, Mr. Bear was ready to take a nap in the corner of the booth.
Sidoli's friend, Joe Lancione, had arranged for the tattoo. "What's it going to say?" she asked.
"Be surprised," said Lancione as he headed off toward his business, A Step In Time.
For Art's Sake: Rowan County Arts Festival Draws a Crowd at Waterworks
Salisbury Post - June 18, 2006 - Hugh Fisher
Rowan Arts Council's Art on Easy Street and Waterworks' Family Fun Day go together like paint and canvas.
That's the opinion of many who turned out for Saturday's events, held on Easy Street downtown between North Main and Lee Streets and at the Waterworks Visual Arts Center on adjoining Liberty Street.
Yesterday was the first time these events have been held on the same day, combining the family fun, music, food, vendors and demonstrations that both are known for.
"We've got such a range of generations coming through here," said Lori McMahon, executive director of Waterworks.
She was referring to the children who came to be a part of art and craft projects throughout the morning, and the adults who enjoyed painting on display inside Waterworks and the outdoor booths of vendors and craftsmen.
"Salisbury and Rowan as a city and a county are just starting to realize the creative capital they have," McMahon said.
With music and delicious food, the festival attracted spectators from all over the area and vendors from North Carolina and several states.
Craftsmen and artists said they enjoyed the atmosphere on Easy Street.
"I've been to Salisbury before," said painter Carol Phifer of Fredericksburg, Va. She's been coming to visit her friend Vickie Clontz of Rockwell and decided to put her paintings on display this year.
"It is a nice place. People talk to you," said Phifer, who paints landscapes and historic places with acrylics. She said she'd sold one painting and had spoken to a number of people.
"What I like about this is that you can talk to people and make those connections," she said."
Local artist Glenn Yost came out to last year's exhibition and returned yet again this year. "It was profitable and enjoyable," he said. "People come by you haven't seen in a while."
Prints of his painting of the former Zesto on North Main Street were a main attraction, Yost said. "It's been a popular piece," he said. "Everyone who's bought one has a story to tell about it."
Emili Page and Joel Hopler -- UNC-Charlotte art students and abstract painters -- sat in the shade by a pickup truck covered in art of all shapes and sizes.
"We're using this as an opportunity to show our art for the first time," Hopler said. "We're not too worried about selling stuff, just getting our name out there and meeting people who know something about art."
Bill and Sue Lee of Chapin, S.C. had a tent with Bill's handmade wooden items on display.
"This was our first year here and we'll definitely be back," Sue Lee said. "There's a good environment here."
They mentioned other arts and crafts events where loud music and too many rowdy children kept patrons from talking or looking peacefully.
At Art on Easy Street, Bill was able to explain to passers-by how he makes bowls, keychains, pens and even flashlights out of bits of exotic woods from South America and Africa as well as from local woods.
"This has been very well organized," Bill Lee said. "It's set up for the arts."
Inside Waterworks, patrons had a chance to view artwork by visiting painter Pat Drew, whose exhibition "The American Family Quilts" is on display in the gallery through August 26.
McMahon said that the exposure that artists and the center itself would receive would likely boost business down the line.
"Our main goal is to raise awareness (of the arts) and give a save and fun place for families to make memories together," McMahon said.
"It's all about helping to grow the community."
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Contact Hugh Fisher at 704-933-3445 or hfisher@salisburypost.com.
East Street Rowan Arts Council brings art of all sorts to Easy Street
Salisbury Post - June 15, 2006
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Saturday Easy Street will once again be transformed by art.
Easy Street is located between North Main Street and Lee Street between Liberty and Council Streets.
Sponsored by the Rowan Arts Council, the third annual Art on Easy Street event will feature more than 50 artists and craftsmen -- from Virginia to Florida -- who will gather for demonstrations and to show and sell their work.
Tenderly used and new art supplies will be collected.
Live music will enliven the event, including Zachary Gonzales and friends who will open the day with music from the Beatles played acoustically and classically.
One-man showman Mario Escobar will bring Hispanic music, humor and fun from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tropical Flavor will have everyone moving with steel band music from 1- 3 p.m.
To close out the day, Divided by Four will play a wide range of beach music
Food vendors will offer a variety of festival foods including ribs, sausage, beef sticks and drinks.
The same day, Waterworks will host Family Fun Day, featuring many free art activities.
From 10 a.m.-3 p.m., craft projects will be offered for all ages.
Many of this year's activities have a South American cultural theme, including a group mural-making station with a Diego Rivera inspired image; Aztec sun god mask-making; paper mosaic patterning; god's eyes; Kachina worry dolls and gourd painting.
Other stations include popular favorites such as a family photo and frame decoration station, pottery glazing with raku firing and Cheerwine bottle-cap fashion accessories.
Summit Builders and Cheerwine are underwriting this event.
Beginning at 3 p.m., Pinocchio's of Spencer will hold a wine tasting in the Waterworks Sculpture garden.
Many potters will be on hand to show the various pottery techniques done in the area including a Raku demonstration.
Members of Carolina Artists Guild invite you to come by and see the diversity of the painting and drawing done by many of its 85 members.
Carolina Plein Air Artists will be painting around the event site and will also have a booth displaying their work.
Other artists will also be demonstrating their techniques, including Stephen Martin with a wood pole lathe.
You can also find jewelry created by a variety of North Carolina artists, as well as soaps, lotions and candles.
There will also be kaleidoscopes made by Sue Davis and handmade dulcimers and folk flutes made by Mark Beaver.
In addition, there will be wood items, handcrafted furniture, metal sculptures, stained glass and blown glass work, papier mache, ceramics, silk flowers and floral arrangements, matted and framed photographs, hair ornaments and clothing.
Face painting, temporary tattoos and on the spot portrait painting will be available.
Free on-street parking is available along North Main, Liberty, Lee, East Council and Depot Streets.
Free lot-parking is available at the Depot Lot located at the corner of Depot and East Council STreets and the lot at the corner of Kerra nd Depot streets.
Event sponsors include F &M Bank, Cloninger Ford and Toyota, and Progress Energy.
The Arts Council continues to seek businesses interested in sponsoring an artist space for $100.
Sponsors for each of the music groups and the general cost of holding the event are needed.
Sponsors interested in participating in this event should contact the Arts Council at 704-638-9887.
Art in the Heart of the City
Salisbury Post - June 16, 2005 - Katie Scarvey
For the second year in a row, a downtown arts festival offers local art and music lovers an easy and relaxing way to spend a Saturday.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, June 18, the Rowan Arts Council is sponsoring "Art on Easy Street." The festival will feature food, music and more than 30 artists from all over the state offering fine art, folk art, jewelry, crafts and pottery.
Since Mayfest -- what used to be the art council's flagship event -- no longer exists, Art on Easy Street is well on its way to becoming the organization's signature fund-raiser, says Joan Zimmerman. Zimmerman is president of the Rowan Arts Council's board of directors and serves as the council's director.
The Carolina Artists will be on hand with a collection of work by members.
Some of the potters participating in this year's festival include Brent Smith, David Cook, Nora Walbourn, Bobbie Listerman, Cheryl Goins, Lynn Haynes and Alice Murphy.
Painters include Glenn Yost, oils and watercolors; Bruce Bunch, wildlife and sporting art; Daniel Heffron, surreal paintings; Ashley Pierce,paintings and illustrations; Bill Gramley, pastels; and Gloria Mattacks. Faye Howell will sell her folk art; Emily Bartsch will draw caricatures.
Mark Beaver will sell hand-crafted musical instruments, including native American style flutes and Appalachian dulcimers.
Art Hattaway returns this year with his turned wooden bowls; Linda Conkel will offer stained glass.
Sue Davis will be there with hand-crafted kaleidoscopes; jewelry-makers will include Nancy Gaines, Jill Kidamaio, Carol Daniel and Frankie Grant.
Ann Bourque will sell custom-made handbags; Karen Garrison will offer handmade soaps, oils and moisturizers. Baskets by Pamela will feature handmade baskets.
Kids' activities will include balloon sculptures and face and hand painting from 1 to 4 p.m. by Class Act Clowns and Characters from Rockwell.
Hap's Grill will sell food; adult beverages will also be available. Snow Biz will sell cold treats.
Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs and stay all day to enjoy the entertainment.
The festival will take place at Easy Street at the 200 Block of North Main Street where it intersects with East Liberty Street.
Easy Street was a pedestrian street connecting the train depot to downtown Salisbury in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
On June 7, Mayor Susan Kluttz issued a proclamation naming June 18 as "Day of the Arts," recognizing "artists and art organizations in our community for their contributions to our quality of life."
Music on Easy Street
10 a.m.-- Franklin and the Doo Rags
10:45 a.m.-- The Rowan-Salisbury Choral Society
11:15 a.m. -- Dale Higbee on recorder
11:45 a.m.-- Larry Davis, bluegrass
12:45 p.m. -- Mark Crossley, jazz
1:15 p.m.-- Bob Paolino, blues
2 p.m. -- Fusion, beach music
3:15 p.m. -- Chris Montgomery, classical guitar
4 p.m. --The Tropical Flavors Band, a steel band from Charlotte
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Contact Katie Scarvey at 704-797-4270 or kscarvey@salisburypost.com.
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