Arts Fest in New Rochelle

New Rochelle Council on the Arts organizing second annual city-wide celebration of the arts

The trolley rides again! New Rochelle will be bustling as the second annual "Arts Fest" takes place on Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3  from 12 to 5 pm. The New Rochelle Council on the Arts is busy organizing an exciting weekend of art exhibits, programs and activities that will spotlight the city's rich diversity. The weekend long festival will include art installations in traditional spaces as well as downtown windows,  live music, great food, exciting performances – including the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble in a free, family-friendly interactive performance --  plus the opportunity to visit the studio of internationally renowned 3-D pop artist Charles Fazzino. A free trolley will provide "hop on – hop off" transportation to public and private cultural institutions throughout the city.

Judith Weber, President of the Council, expressed her excitement about all the plans: "There are arts venues, organizations, and downtown restaurants, all planning their individual events, and every day more people are "hopping on" to become participants. Arts Fest will create enormous energy and there will be something for everyone!"

Among the participating venues to date are:

Backstreet Gallery, "Music Witness ® Lawton Street Testimony", featuring "avant jazz" works on paper by Jeff Schlanger and live jazz.

The Empty Hand Zen Center ,"Sweet Cake Enso" exhibition. In the history of Zen the brush-painted circle, or Enso, has been a prevailing form in artistic practice; with a focus on how meditation involves daily life, Buddhist artists pick up the circle from both traditional and contemporary perspectives in this exhibit.

Charles Fazzino Open Studio: An opportunity to tour the studio of one of the world's premiere pop artists, participate in an interactive 3-D art project, learn about the artist and his process and view an exclusive Fazzino exhibition.

Iona College Council on the Arts, which will sponsor an exhibit at the Brother Kenneth Chapman Gallery, "The Micro-Sculpture of Dalton Ghetti." A pencil is just a writing instrument  unless it's in the hands of Dalton Ghetti, as Bridgeport resident who has been carving miniature sculptures into the lead on the tip of pencils for 25 years, all without aid of a magnifying glass.

Media Loft will offer open studios as well as an exhibit, "ML … & Friends" for which Media Loft resident artists have invited their artist friends to fill the building with exciting new works.

The Museum of Arts & Culture will feature "Harlem? Harlem! Dance Theatre of Harlem 1969-2010," an exhibit of archival photographs, costumes and video clips plus  a free performance by the incomparable DTH Ensemble at 4 pm on Saturday, October 2nd in the Whitney Young Auditorium.

The New Rochelle Public Library will host the kick-off spectacular for BID Family Days on Saturday, October 1st from 12:30 to 5:30 pm with Amazing Circus Antics by the hilarious and highly-skilled performers of the National Circus Project. Enjoy fabulous crafts to make and take home; dazzling demonstrations by local martial arts, dance and yoga schools; refreshments and regalia – are all part of this crowd-pleasing annual event for families and kids of all ages. And the 95th Annual Open Juried Exhibtion of the New Rochelle Art Association will be featured in the library's Lumen Winter Gallery, with exceptional works in oil, watercolor, graphics, mixed media, pastel, digital media and photography sculpture and crafts, including jewelry, basketry, fiber, ceramics and fine craft. Reception on Saturday from 5:30 to 7:30 featuring the music of the Brian Carter Trio.

New Rochelle Opera will perform Once Upon An Opera, a free, family-friendly concert on Saturday at 3 pm in the Ossie Davis Theater at the New Rochelle Public Library.

The Big Apple Playback Theatre – a unique improve group that brings true stories volunteered by the audience to life using movement, text, music and poetry – will perform on Sunday at 3 pm in the Ossie Davis Theater at the New Rochelle Public Library.

At the Huguenot Children's Library the non-profit Partnership for the Huguenot Children's Library will present Brick Builders, a free Lego ®  building activity for children.

Thomas Paine Cottage will offer free guided tours that will provide the Colonial perspective on New Rochelle's history.

Artist Jesse Sanchez will host an Open Studio offering an inside look at his latest work 

At Trinity St. Paul's Episcopal Church "Jazz Plus" (produced by G&J Productions, Jewel Kinch-Thomas & Greg Thomas) will offer family friendly, fun-filled activities including live music, dance instruction in swing or Latin jazz, and a video presentation celebrating the icons of jazz.

The College of New Rochelle's Castle Gallery: "Nature/Culture," features the work of artists who address the dichotomy of nature and culture through a variety of media. Featured artists include Jae Hi Ahn, Mia Brownell, Geoffrey Detrani, Charles Gick, Lenka Konopasek, Beili Liu, Julie Anne Mann, Roberta Melzl, Leigh Taylor Mickelson, Mari Ogihara, Troy Richards, Christopher Rose, Marsha Wolfson Ray and Jason Salavon. Curated by Katrina Rhein.

At the Hugh A. Doyle Center, an intergenerational concert featuring Songcatchers and the Hugh A. Doyle Chorale, followed by a reception and an exhibit of works by seniors.

At CNR's Mooney Center Gallery a juried exhibit "Art for Charity: Creating Critical Linkages" will benefit each artist's chosen charity.

transFORM Gallery will feature "The World of Color and Form Through the Eyes of the Artist" with works by Robin Tedesco, Kenneth Dinkel and Ken Stabile.

The Knickerbocker Loft will present KnickArtBazaar, featuring jewelry, photography and painting by the artist residents.
 
At Media Loft selected artists' studios will be open to the public and family-friendly activities will take place on both days.
 
At Westchester Yoga Arts a two-day "open house" will feature a photography exhibit by Emmanuelle Francoy, family yoga for kids 5 and up from 2 to 3 pm each day, live mural painting with artist Lauren Royes Baccus from 3:30 to 5 both days, and a Sunday afternoon belly dance demonstration.
 
The BID Artist Spaces will feature a show "Chi Modu: The Defining Years" at the Media Arts Centre and open studios both days.
 
Sutton Florist Inc. will showcase classical music and poetry readings both days.

In addition, seven downtown restaurants – Alvin & Friends, Brickyard Bistro, Cholo's Peruvian Bistro, Coromandel, The Gnarly Vine, Mo's New York Grill and Rangoli Indian Cuisine will celebrate "The Art of Dining" with special menus, music and art.

Funding for Arts Fest is being provided by title sponsor Avalon on the Sound East, community sponsors Charles Fazzino Museum Editions Ltd. and Iona College Council on the Arts, participating sponsors the College of New Rochelle, the City of New Rochelle Business Improvement District, and TransFORM Galleries, and friend-level sponsor the Friends of New Rochelle Public Library, with additional funds provided by a JP Morgan Chase Re-grant administered by Arts Westchester and 2010 support funding from the City of New Rochelle. NRCA events are also made possible through the support and participation of NRCA's membership: To join, or for details and a complete calendar of events, visit www.newrochellearts.org