Art in the Park
Hi everyone. Just wanted to give a little example here of the fun to be had when art leaves the studio and gets out onto the streets or, in this case, into the park. Chestnut Ridge Park is a beautiful venue in Orchard Park, NY where walkers, bikers, hikers and all manner of sports enthusiasts and nature seekers come to enjoy the great outdoors. Acres and acres of dense forests, trails and picnic areas adorn this venue. The last couple of years the park has hosted “Artify the Park,” organized by the Chestnut Ridge Conservancy. It’s a one-day arts event where painters, sculptors, photographers and other artists show up on site and work live in the park.
The picture above shows me working at my spot on a picnic table. Lots of adults and kids passed through this building, stopping to visit with the artists working in the room. I did quite a bit of sculpting, and perhaps even more talking, as people seemed fascinated with the process.
Some artists set up outdoors on the lawn, performing music or working en plein air (landscape painting). Others, like myself, were indoors demonstrating their techniques in one of the park’s lodges. Among the many sights and activities were some which even offered hands-on opportunities for passers-by to try out various art methods for themselves. My demonstration showed visitors the early stages of a sculpture project. My initial wire and foil armature was in the recognizable form of a fox. Kids and adults alike really enjoyed watching me putting on a layer of polymer clay to cover the armature. This year’s event took place on September 23, and the summer-like weather was absolutely gorgeous.