If you’re going to be on Long Island this weekend and are looking for something creative to check out, stop by the Riverhead Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival on Sunday, May 24th. Here’s more info from Newdsay.com online…
Riverhead Street Painting Festival
BY PAT BURSON – May 19, 2009
Each May, professional and aspiring artists of all ages flock to
On Sunday about 50 artists, including international street artist Rod Tryon of Cutchogue, will "fill up the street with their art," says Pat Snyder, executive director of the East End Arts Council, which puts on the annual event. But everyone is welcome to try their hand at drawing.
"We have artists who are quite good doing the artwork. We also have families doing art together. Everybody's in a really good mood."
STREET PAINTING
The painting spaces will range from 4 by 6 feet to 8 by 8 feet squares. Event sponsors who have paid for spots will have their own artists assigned to them. Individuals (ages 14 and older) or families who'd like to snag one on event day can sign up for an available 4-by-6-foot spot for $20. The council will provide pastel-colored chalk and knee pads. Long Island has a lot of artistic talent, Snyder says. "People are getting pretty sophisticated," she adds. "Over the years, we've given our street painters tips and the work just keeps getting better and better."
MEET THE ARTIST
Tryon's eye-catching creations are three-dimensional. They're usually 12 by 15 feet and take about 30 hours to create over several days. He's been painting for crowds at street festivals all over the world since 1987 (sneak a peek at artforafterhours.com).
"It's just meant to be a temporary thing," he says. "It's a gift for those who get to see them."
He encourages festival attendees to "just get in there" and give it a try. "It's just a matter of getting down on your hands and knees and rubbing the chalk into the asphalt," Tryon says. "It’s hard work, but it's a lot of fun. And really dirty. But that's half the fun, too."
ALL-
Besides the street painting, there will be arts and crafts vendors, storytelling and hands-on activities for kids, a checkers tournament with giant pieces and live music.
Just for fun, kids and adults are invited to show off their tactile and creative skills at a new LEGO builder exhibit, which will be displayed inside the arts council's carriage house.
The festival is not only a time of art and music but also a festive coming together of the people who live in the community.
"Riverhead is a really diverse community, and we encourage that diversity, and we really embrace it," Snyder says. "That's one of the really wonderful things about the event. Everybody's welcome and everybody's appreciated."
MAKE YOUR OWN MUSIC
From noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, take your karaoke skills to the next level. During Riverhead's Community Mosaic and Street Painting Festival, singers of all ages are invited to the East End Arts Council's digital recording studio to make their own CD. Recording studio engineer Clifton Torres will be on hand to guide participants along - the finished results can be burned to a CD for only $1.
Riverhead