Artists and organizers agree, Arts Alive in the Park might just be the biggest family reunion of the summer.
“It has become that,” said co-organizer Ann Nelson. “People come down looking for people they met the previous year or the year before. That feeling of family, that camaraderie, draws new people every year, too.”
Dozens of artists, artisans and food vendors will participate in the 2016 instalment, selling their creations, handing out brochures and striking up conversations on the shores of Willingdon Beach. Booths will be open Saturday, August 20, from 11 am-7 pm and Sunday, August 21, from 11 am-6 pm, wrapping up Blackberry Festival 2016.
Contrary to visiting a gallery or an artist’s home, Arts Alive provides a more casual atmosphere for the public, void of the purchase pressure some people find intimidating.
“It’s a very informal, relaxed atmosphere and that’s a wonderful thing,” said sculptor Richard Benson, who will be tending a booth on behalf of Powell River Studio Tour. “It’s no different than walking by a food stand. You don’t have to buy the food, you can just admire and smell it. The more exposure, the more people learn, the more interest they have, the better it is for all of us.”
The two-day event is a showcase for artists of all disciplines and vendor applications will be accepted until the gates open, said Nelson.
She said event co-organizer Nina Mussellam, who oversees the setup of booths, has become impervious to last-minute surprises over the years.
“As long as I’m involved with Arts Alive it will be inclusive,” said Nelson. “We will take people right up until the last second.”
Though Nelson initially created Arts Alive to be part of Blackberry Festival back in 2002, the event has been operated most recently by Powell River Council For Arts, Culture and Heritage.
“There have been some really good volunteers who have emerged,” said Nelson. “They take on whole big chunks now, year after year. The first few years I was coordinating where the artists set up, as well as the food and the stage.”
These days, Nelson said she is free to enjoy what goes on throughout the weekend.
“Once I’ve done my work and helped everybody get all set up, I just get to sit there on stage and hand each performer a cold bottle of water,” she said.
In addition to a variety of singer-songwriters and small musical ensembles, Willingdon’s Rotary Pavilion will also play host to bellydancers. The talent roster is diverse, local and completely volunteer.
“It sets a wonderful atmosphere, the sound wafting through,” said Benson. “Everybody may not like every type of music, but they love it in the background; it’s very calming. It’s another form of art and it completes the circle.”
To engage the younger crowd, Tourism Powell River will be sending its summer students down with its Boler trailer.
“They’re going to do a tie-dye, t-shirt activity with the kids,” said Nelson. “It’s something fun, eye-catching and short enough that it will be a good fit.”
For 15 years and counting, Arts Alive has managed to attract supporters of all ages using an appeal of homegrown creativity and hidden talents.
“It isn’t as though we’ve set out to come up with some big theme or showpiece or anything deliberately special to try to get people’s attention,” said Nelson. “These are people who just are not as visible and come out and make themselves available for this one weekend. It’s literally like a family reunion.”
For more information on Arts Alive in the Park, contact Nelson at 604.483.9345 or Mussellam at 604.485.6506.
