Now in its second year, ArtsWeek, taking place Thursday, July 23, through Sunday, July 26, has grown from last year’s inaugural all-encompassing cultural showcase to feature even more interactive and up-close artistic encounters for visitors to engage in. The idea behind ArtsWeek is to create a festival of festivals that puts on display everything that Syracuse produces in the form of visual and performing arts in an attempt to create a signature, summer cultural tourist destination.

The eventual goal of Arts Week is to become a nine- or 10-day festival that encompasses two weekends, and the seeds to that plan are already being sown as there are a few auxiliary events taking place the weekend after ArtsWeek. The main attractions that are the ties that bind this work of weekend art are the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, the Northeast Jazz and Wine Fest (formerly called Jazz in the Square), the Syracuse New Times Street Painting Contest and, of course, the countless local purveyors of the arts that will be on hand to let all who walk through know that Syracuse has a well-defined culture.
To help celebrate this wondrous event, The New Times has assembled a program for you to carry around the festival to guide you through the maze of colors and sounds and help you behold the beauty of everything that is ArtsWeek.

ARTSWEEK 2009 PARTICIPANTS

Blue Rain ECOfest

The Blue Rain ECOfest will premiere during ArtsWeek on Friday, July 24, from 5 to 10 p.m., and Saturday, July 25, noon to 10 p.m., bringing with it a collection of environmentally and, in some ways, financially friendly products and techniques geared toward families. Set up in Hanover Square next to City Hall Commons will be several booths and exhibits, displaying products such as fuel-efficient and alternative-fueled cars presented by Cuse Cars and available for test drives. 

Surprisingly, this is the first multi-day eco-fest in the Northeast, and while most of these events tend to be academic- and business-oriented, the Blue Rain ECOfest will fill Hanover Square with not only environmentally friendly information and products, but also food, dancing and music by local jammers Sophistafunk on Friday at 5, 7:30 and 9:15 p.m., and Endive on Saturday at 5, 7:30 and 9:15 p.m.

According to Amy Komar, publicist for the event, new eco-friendly items include permeable pavement that allows drainage of storm runoff, renewable energy products and safe, organic bug spray. Other participating exhibitors include the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency, Syracuse Technology Garden, CNY Renewable Energy and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The Syracuse Real Food Co-op will be there as well, touting organic food.

The ECOfest has been in development since 2008 by Larry Luttinger, director of CNY Jazz Central. Along with members of his board with support from the Center of Excellence, National Grid, the Downtown Committee and others. Lattinga felt the Blue Rain ECOfest was a necessary feature after realizing there are no events of its kind in upstate New York that are specifically for families. As this is the launch of the project, he expects it to be a learning process, so expect an improved version next year.

The Art Store

Also known as Commercial Art Supply, the Art Store, 935 Erie Blvd. E. (474-1000), will be hosting a tent Friday, July 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., where you can stop by and create a wish flag, based on the Tibetan tradition of prayer flags. Visitors are encouraged to write, paint and decorate flags with their wishes for others. The flags can be hung from the Art Store wishing tree or taken home. While at the tent you can also see local artists at work: On Friday, learn about watercolor and hand building with clay; on Saturday, Sharon Blair will share her talents in panpastels and mixed media art; and on Sunday, block printing, graphite pencil drawings and de/reconstruction art will be featured.

Connective Corridor

The Connective Corridor is working to get participants and spectators to ArtsWeek, running a free shuttle service from Manley Field House, East Colvin Street and Comstock Avenue, coming and going every 20 minutes during the scheduled hours: Thursday, July 23, 5 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, July 24 and 25, 9 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, July 26, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

The aim of the Connective Corridor is to link the Syracuse University Hill with downtown through exclusive events and transportation jazzed up with lively design and lighting along the path, which hits galleries on the SU campus before heading downtown along East Genesee Street into Armory Square and west to West Fayette Street (see map, page 7).

Downtown YMCA

The Downtown YMCA is hosting a special event during ArtsWeek, attracting passers-by with books and pamphlets set up outside their facility at 340 Montgomery St. (474-6851). Inside, local authors will be present for book signings, including fiction writer Jennifer Pashley and poet Phil Memmer, winner of the 2008 Idaho Prize for Poetry from Lost Horse Press for his most recent book of poems Lucifer Hagiography along with a 2008 Adirondack Literary Award for his book Threat of Pleasure. Both authors help run the Writer’s Center, a branch of the YMCA dedicated to training in the art of writing. Raffles will also be held for literary prizes such as a membership to the Writer’s Center.

Everson Museum of Art

The Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St. (474-6064), will participate in ArtsWeek by hosting a plein air event, French for “painting in the open air.” As the name suggests, this free event will take place outdoors, near the City Hall Commons on Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everson volunteers and staff will be on hand to answer questions, share painting tips and techniques and explain the concept of Impressionism.

Visitors will be provided with all of the materials they need to create their artwork, and can either take their creations home or donate them to the Everson for display this fall. 

The Plein Air event serves as the kickoff to the Everson’s upcoming French Impressionist exhibit: Turner to Cezanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection opening Monday, Oct. 9, and running through Sunday, Jan. 3. The exhibit features 53 paintings from the likes of van Gogh, Monet, Turner and many more, and is organized by the American Federation of Arts and the National Museum Wales. According to Sarah Massett, public relations director at the Everson, Syracuse is one in five cities fortunate enough to have this exhibit come through. 

Tickets are now on sale: $15 for adults, $12 for ages under 18, seniors and military personnel with ID.

Family Friendzy

ArtsWeek will be extended an extra weekend for Family Friendzy, taking place Saturday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in Clinton Square. This is an event for all ages hosted by the Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreations and Youth Programs with sponsorship from Citadel Communications, P&C, Time Warner, Cultural Resources Council, state Sen. John DeFrancisco’s Arts and Cultural Grant and the Syracuse New Times’ sister publication, Family Times. 

Events include singer Justin Bieber, step and drill teams, Vietnamese dancers, the Young and Talented Dance Company and more. Local celebrities will read their favorite storybooks at the Storybook Corner including WSTM-Channel 3 anchor Laura Hand at 10:30 a.m.; WSYR-Channel 9 anchor Christie Casciano at 11:30 a.m.; Rita Paniagua from the Spanish Action League, at 12:30 p.m.; community activist Mary Nelson at 1:30 p.m., and WNTQ-FM 93.1 morning jocks Ted Long and Amy Robbins at 2:30 p.m. 

Also in the Friendzy will be arcade games, inflatable bounce houses, a sports zone, a safety zone for the wee ones, as well as a sculpture in the works, open for people to aid in its construction. The YMCA will present activities and a game to promote healthy eating while the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency will offer games aimed at testing children’s “green” knowledge about recyclables. You will also be able to make purses out of T-shirts with Housing Visions and step into the role of an artist with staff from the Everson Museum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information contact the Syracuse Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs at 473-4330, Ext. 3006.

Water Fest

Located outside Plymouth Church, 232 E. Onondaga St., Water Fest will allow participants to make a rainstick, paint with ice cubes and hear a story about water. In addition, you will learn ways we can help others around the globe have enough water. Postcards will be available to alert members of Congress about water resources. Water Fest takes place Saturday, July 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, July 26, 1 to 3 p.m.

Media Unit

The Media Unit is bringing its own flair to ArtsWeek in Hanover Square on Saturday, July 25, noon to 5 p.m., with “Dancestravaganza,” featuring multicultural dance performances. The Johnson Irish Step Dancers will begin the event, followed by the Media Unit’s Oz Nation Dancers, who will make spontaneous appearances throughout the festival. Other dance styles will include ballet, hip-hop, African, Middle Eastern and many more. As a special piece, during the last 15 minutes of the event, a Michael Jackson tribute will unfold as all the dancers recreate and jam to the King of Pop’s “Thriller” video broadcast on a big screen. The floor will be open for all to join in on the fun. “We’re hoping to get big participation,” says Walt Shepperd, founder of the Media Unit.

Onondaga County Public Library

OCPL will be hosting several events throughout ArtsWeek. According to Kathy Osmond, public relations and programming director, the Central Library, located in the Galleries, 447 S. Salina St. (435-1900), will offer several programs for children and teens during ArtsWeek, Friday, July 24, through Saturday, Aug. 1. 

On Friday at 3 p.m., the Central Library’s Creative Kids Club offers different topics for adolescents ages 12 to 18, with snacks and prizes. Saturday Story Time, July 25, 11 a.m., offers fun in the form of books, songs and dance for preschoolers and toddlers on the fourth floor of the building. Monday Story Time, July 27, 1:30 p.m., will be a reprise of Saturday’s feature, also taking place on the fourth floor. 

Teen Game Night, Tuesday, July 28, 6 p.m., is held in the activity room and offers a variety of Wii games for ages 13 to 17. Regular National Public Radio contributor Nancy Pearl will also make a special appearance on Tuesday, July 28, as part of the CNY Read Program, a version of If All of Seattle Read the Same Book. The Bubble Man on Wednesday, July 29, 10 a.m., features Doug Rougeux, who will wow his audience through juggling acts as well as creating his famous bubble sculptures, which enclose volunteers. Summer Evening Story Time also on July 29, at 7 p.m. features a sleepover-themed story hour in which children can bring their favorite teddy bear and even wear pajamas while being regaled with classic tales.

Onondaga Historical Association

The OHA, 321 Montgomery St., presents an exhibit referencing the history of jazz in Onondaga County. Included are photographs of local jazz clubs and musicians, vintage instruments, a locally made flapper dress, as well as sheet music, recordings and other items related to the local jazz scene; the exhibit focuses on the 1920s and 1930s.

The OHA Museum and Research Center exists to inspire people’s understanding of the history the community shares that is also the foundation for the future. They also encourage diverse audiences from the neighborhoods of Syracuse and the communities of Onondaga County to explore, appreciate and enjoy their past. The OHA Museum is open Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 428-1864 or visit www.cnyhistory.org.

The Syracuse CommUnity Mandala Project

This is a unifying visual representation of the value each person brings to the community as a whole. Children and adults can express themselves by decorating their own mandala during ArtsWeek. Participants will receive worksheets to color as they please with markers, colored pencils, paint and other media. Several sessions of the mandala crafting are taking place Friday, July 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, July 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., along the 300 block of East Onondaga Street, and Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at City Hall Commons near Hanover Square.

Shinge Roko Sherry Chayat Roshi from the Zen Center will be on hand Saturday, July 25, noon to 1 p.m., to lead a meditation session then speak about mandalas. All the creations will be joined together into one giant mandala. “We can and do come together to create beauty in our community even if it is not always recognized,” explains organizer Gina Fortino. “We are all vital to our society’s success and this project will be showing that visually.” 

The result will also be on display during the Family Friendzy event on Saturday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and later at the New York State Fair on Friday, Sept. 4, and Saturday, Sept. 5, noon to 5 p.m. 

The Syracuse International Film Festival

The Syracuse International Film Festival will feature a program of family-rated animated and short films collected from the best of five years’ worth of fest entries, unspooling Friday, July 24, 8:30 to 11 p.m., in City Hall Commons near Hanover Square. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs or bean-bags as it’s all outdoor seating.

The Syracuse International Film Festival embraces a truly international community by presenting contemporary, international film for year-round special events and 10 festival days every April. The fest seeks films with true artistic merit, regardless of length, genre or form, and has provided a significant showcase for established and emerging filmmakers from around the world. Visit www.syrfilmfest.com for more information.

Syracuse University Book Fair

The Syracuse University Bookstore, 303 University Place (443-9900), will host a book fair during the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival. Local fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children’s book authors and illustrators will be on hand to discuss and personally autograph their books. The literary and creative talents of local and regional authors and illustrators will be showcased Friday, July 24, through Sunday, July 26. The book fair tent will be located at the 300 block of Montgomery Street.

Th3 and the CNY Arts Covenant

The Third Thursday coalition and the Arts Covenant are joining forces in a collective quilt project that will feature painted handprints of anyone wishing to participate. “The handprint is the oldest form of signing as well as the first time children get into art,” explains Mary Stanley, an organizer of the Arts Covenant. 

The goal of the event is to get as many quilts painted as possible. Th3 and the Arts Covenant will share a tent Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, where festival goers can print their hand on a quilt square. The quilt will then be displayed in various locations around the city later on this year. Flags are also being made in the same “handprint” manner. These flags, in turn, will be hung from a 21-foot tall totem that will be displayed at the different ArtsWeek events.

At the booth, participants will receive a postcard from the Arts Covenant with a checklist of four goals: To buy at least three pieces of art made locally, to attend an art or cultural event in a culture unfamiliar to you, to invite people to an art or cultural event they’ve never experienced before, and to make art. 

These goals reflect the values of the Arts Covenant, which encourages local art through individual action. Th3 hosts art events the third Thursday of every month at 24 local visual arts venues.

Urban Video Project

Starting Thursday, July 23, at dusk, the Urban Video Project (UVP) will host LaserGraf, featuring local artists who will work with light at the Monroe Building, 333 E. Onondaga St. The high-definition projector, used with a laser pointer as the “paintbrush,” will be available to the public on Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, 9 to 11 p.m. Everyone is welcome to “paint” what they want, the result of which will be projected against the building’s 3,600-square-foot wall.

The UVP is a Connective Corridor project and has created three permanent installations within the Corridor: on the Monroe Building; LED curtains at the front of Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St.; and the wall of the Onondaga Historical Association, 321 Montgomery St. A fourth venue is in the works at the Mulroy Civic Center, 411 Montgomery St.

The goal of the UVP is to “light up” the city with a large-scale artistic glow to help attract more people to the city’s inner art hub. These high-definition systems are used to project collections of video, photography, animation and poetry as well as special events including movies and performances. 

Totem Project

Artist Peter Michael will design and direct the installation of a children’s totem, consisting of interlocking silhouettes of children at play. Children will be invited to paint the unassembled plywood figures early in the day; they will then be assembled and erected into a 21-foot tall totem that will tower over ArtsWeek. The finished totem will be erected at Clinton Square during Family Friendzy on Aug. 1. The project takes place Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at City Hall Commons, and again Saturday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Clinton Square.

ArtsWeek ’Zine

Urban Art Rangers will once again gather stories from exhibiting artists, musicians and attendees at ArtsWeek to create a newspaper that captures the sights and sounds of the festival. Find them at City Hall Commons on Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Live Mural

Gossamer Wings Interior Design Studio presents a live mural where kids of all ages can express their artistic bent. Free face painting will be available. It takes place Friday, July 24, 1 to 6 p.m., along the 300 block of East Onondaga Street; Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., City Hall Commons; and Sunday, July 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., along the 300 block of East Onondaga Street.

Hawaiian Luau

Head to Delavan Art Gallery, 501 W. Fayette St., to support and celebrate the creativity of local artists. The $10 admission includes light refreshments and non-alcoholic beverages. Remember to wear your Hawaiian shirts! The luau takes place Friday, July 24, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

Candlelight Series

Syracuse Opera will perform arias from La Boheme, I Pagliacci, Hansel & Gretel, Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro and Rigoletto. Opening performance by Lilly Patrick. Saturday, Aug. 1, 6:30 p.m. Armory Square, corner of West Jefferson and South Franklin streets.