News

Oct 05, 2023

Manchester's Art in the Park on Sunday

The 48th “Art in the Park,” the annual gathering of visual artists, musicians,

The 48th "Art in the Park," the annual gathering of visual artists, musicians, activities and food vendors, is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Center Memorial Park, 624-638 Main St. in Manchester. The free event will be held rain or shine.

More than 150 artists, who make paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photographs, digital illustrations, pottery and fiber art, as well as craftspeople making all sorts of products, will get together in the park surrounding Mary Cheney Library.

Cynthia Bulaong, who organizes the event, said this year's lineup is the largest yet, and the increased participation is primarily artists who live in Manchester.

"We saw an upswing of local artists registering for the first time … who have been attending the event over the years but never participated," Bulaong said. "They finally want to join into their own community festival."

Christopher J. Silver, director of the Department of Leisure, Families and Recreation for the Town of Manchester, said the town embraces Art in the Park as part of its "creative economy."

"If we can incorporate art or creative activities anywhere in the communities, it's an effective way to engage people and bring them out more," Silver said. "All people connect to art and it brings vibrancy and color to our green spaces."

Silver said his thinking is a twist on the saying "If you create the jobs, the people will come.

"We think if we build the communities, the people will come and the jobs will follow," he said. "We think that art can do that for a community."

Musicians will perform all day. The lineup is town troubadour Bill Ludwig, Bonnie Jacobson Trio doing acoustic covers, Catman Bill, folk artist Charlie Diamond, indie-pop artist Heather McLarney, soul-folk band Mr. Keys & The Breeze, hip-hop vocalist Tenaya Taylor, folk-rock band The Guinea Pigs, violin students The Music Pal Project, The WHISH Band, Michael Jackson-Freddie Mercury tribute artist Kyle Pellerin, and DJ REEFA.

Food vendors include Bobby T's Hot Dog Cart, Bob's Jerky For a Cause, Hungry Lion Food Truck, Alluring Sweets By Diana, Brazilian Gula Grill, Chet's Italian Ice & Frozen Desserts, Jeff's Kettle Corn, Oh Fudge and vegan Jamaican chef Rasta Rant Experience. Restaurants in the Main Street area, easy walking distance from Art in the Park, also will be open, as will nearby Urban Lodge Brewing.

Interactive activities include face painting, community mural painting, sing-alongs and take-home art projects such as tiles, rocks, mandalas, canvases, "mindfulness breathing sticks" and "Pollock paintings." Painter Antony Zito will do an oversize painting live on-site, and will do watercolor portraits for people who ask.

Artists, craftspeople and vendors are A Clay Zone, A. Michaud / Wabi Sabi, Abby Djan, Alexander Julian Photo & Frame, Alicia Anderson Pottery, Amanda Mendoza, Amanda's Art, Anna Mae, Dave Nevue, Athira Sanal, Black Orchid Skincare, Blue Hearts Glass, Born & Bred Salon/Studio, Brkfstgrl, CANdle Collab, Candlelight Rose II, Cara Stimmel, Carlene Buchanan, CC's Pottery, Center Street Soap Co, Ceramic Shenanigans, Chris Brown, Cinder and Salt, Claire's Casual Jewelry, Cliffside Crafts, Concrete Daisy, Cool Stones Hot Rocks, Cooper Beech Crafters, CorriveauCreationZ, Cottage Potter, Crafted to a T, Crafteriffic Art, Craftymix Studios, Crocheting by Tiffani, Crunchy Diva Designs, Curly Fantasy, David's Dioramas, Designs by Dori, Designs by Jackie, Designs By Ravetto, Doug Hockman Photography, Dumais Fine Art & Leathers, DyeAbolic Dyes, Elainenthesun, Elizabeth the Artist, Elle Fagan, Emily Cyr, Emily Keating, Empress Bohemia, ERJURSELF, Fairy Girl Action Squad, Gaffron-Hargrove Art, Garden Art Flowers, GarrisonFjord, Gia Tsiknas / DM Begin, Grassillini Creations, Green Bean Creations, Handmade Studio One, Hartford Artisans Weaving Center, Henna Tattoo, Herbal Bones Art & Wellness, Infinite Dot Arts, Jeff Blazejovsky, Jewelsart, Jubilee Fine Art, JW Crafts, K & T Jewelry & Accessories, Karen Burke Photo Art, Kate Stephen Jewelry, Kettlepot Soap, Khonda Creations and African Arts, Kim Desrosiers’ Be Brave Art & Design, Kimberly's Creations & Things, Kiss My Glass by Denine Taylor, Kurt Suydam Photography, Lady B's ColorfulWood, Lady's Divine Beauty, Laerta Premto, Laurence Nelson, Laurie Lynne's Jewelry, Leaf Home Solutions, Leah Cunha Crafts, Lisa's Lantern, Little Bird Wellness, Lori Barker, Magpie's Miscellany, Makepeace Designs, Manchester Adult & Continuing Education, Manchester Art Association, Manchester Lions Club, Metaphysical Gems, Mijumi, Mill Court Ceramics, Monumental Candles, MSD Design, My Precious Stones, Neil LeFebvre, Nia Joi, Nigel Wynter, Nikki Liz, Noonday Collection, Normand Photography, Nsombi Creative, Oak Grove Handmades, Occopello, On The Wing Bird Photography, One of a Find, Paintings By Duffy, Paintings By Naimie, Patricia Trapp, Paws That Draw (art by dogs), Purple Dragon, Raising Wallz Pottery, Red Tail Art, Reefs Views Photography, Renewal by Anderson, Robert Cooper Photography, Rose Candles and Gifts, Rural Heritage, Samantha Cyr, Sarah Link, Slate Expectation, Stephen's Spray Paint Art, Stones and Stitchcrafts, Sweet Light Farm Soy Candles, Tanger Studio, Taylor Martone, Teeny Tiny Woman, Terese Maineri, The Greener Gift, The Quintessential Quill, Thrifted Stitches and Finds, Tom Ryan's Studio, Treehugger Creations, Verdilune and Zunda Illustrations.

Details on each artist can be found at openstudiohartford.com/art-in-the-park-artists-2023.

The event is produced by and benefits Artist in Real Time, a nonprofit providing opportunities for local artists. Artists in Real Time also produces the annual Open Studio Hartford.

Free parking is available on nearby streets and in parking lots on Main Street and Purnell Place, which is behind the buildings on the east side of Main Street between Birch and Oak streets.

Susan Dunne can be reached at [email protected].

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