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ArtsWeek combines the 42nd annual Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival, the Stage of Nations Blue Rain EcoFest and the Syracuse New Times Street Painting Festivals with more than 26 interactive arts activities that are sure to bring out the creativity in everyone who visits. All four festivals are free to attend; everyone is welcome to come downtown, make a day (or two) of it and enjoy the wealth of arts and culture Syracuse offers.
Visitors can peruse everything the five days, Wednesday, July 25, to Sunday, July 29, offer along a de facto Arts Walk, linking Everson Plaza, along the South State Street side of the Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., to Columbus Circle to Hanover Square to Clinton Square. Don’t walk too fast, however. You may miss some of the events—many of them new and different this year—that are helping ArtsWeek become an annual must-do festival.
If you’re coming downtown from the Syracuse University area, consider taking the Connective Corridor bus. The free shuttle will run on Saturday, July 28, to help people travel to and from campus to the Arts Week events.
During the week, anyone can board the standard (and free) Connective Corridor buses, which leave Comstock Avenue outside of SU’s Life Sciences Building, every 40 minutes starting at 8:40 a.m. The Connective Corridor doesn’t normally run on weekends during the summer, but on Saturday buses will leave from Comstock Avenue every 20 minutes starting at noon and ending at 6 p.m.
On its way into downtown, the bus stops at Archbold Gym, Stadium Place; Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St.; and the Center of Excellence, 727 E. Washington St.; before stopping on West Washington Street next to the SU Warehouse. On its way back to campus, it stops at the Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., the Center of Excellence, Syracuse Stage, and the Irving Avenue parking garage before returning to Comstock Avenue.
For getting as close to Arts Week activities as possible, your best bet is to get off the bus at the Warehouse and walk east on Washington Street or stay on until the bus reaches the Everson Museum of Art, where Arts Week events begin.
Keep this guide with you to help you decide where to start, and then where to end your busy days. If you prefer to stroll with your smartphone, bookmark syracuseartsandcraftsfestival.com and enjoy the city.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Wednesday, July 25
Flicks on the Crick. Bring a lawn chair to Armory Square’s Creekwalk Park and enjoy a different movie each week as it’s projected on the side of Sound Garden, 310 W. Jefferson St. Safe House will be screened July 25 at dusk.
July 27-28
Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival. See story, page 26.
Stage of Nations Blue Rain ECOfest. See story, page 22.
Onondaga Historical Association. The OHA will host, for the fourth year, the artists and performers of the Native American Circle of Life. A performance by the Native Shawl Dancers will take place in the museum auditorium Sunday, July 29, at 2 p.m. Traditional foods will be available for purchase in front of the museum. cnyhistory.org. 321 Montgomery St. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
July 27-29
Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival. A three-day showcase of the country’s most talented artists, crafts- people and entertainers is centered on historic Columbus Circle. The show features more than 160 artists representing 27 states and Canada. The event presents contemporary arts and crafts, ranging from functional to decorative, a wide variety of music, multicultural performances, summer refreshments and participatory activities. syracuseartsandcraftsfestival.com. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
M Street Cooperative. This event brings 65 local crafters downtown with booths offering stained glass and handmade wooden toys to wrought-iron sculpture and handmade children’s and adult clothing. Culinary delights are supplied by the Onondaga Historical Association’s booth with members of the Onondaga Nation cooking Buffalo burgers and venison sausage, with Gwen’s Soul Food and Destiny’s fresh fruit drinks. 300 block of Montgomery Street, Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Media Unit Book Sale. Browse used books at bargain prices; make an offer, everything must go. 300 block of Montgomery Street. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Plymouth Congregational Church. For sale is an assortment of church baked goods, water, juice and coffee. All proceeds will go to support the community ministries of the church. Several artisans will display their work as well. plymouthuccsyracuse.org. Plymouth Church, 232 E. Onondaga St. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral. This venerable church will be open to visitors so they can relax and enjoy the beauty of the building; a rummage sale will be available as well. Look for area artists in and around the cathedral participating in a Plein Air Paint-Out. Enjoy entertainment on Saturday: Chevelle Moore with Sounds of Eternity at 1 p.m. and Nitelite Mary at 3 p.m. 310 Montgomery St. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Syracuse Stories. This multimedia art and storytelling festival celebrates and shares the stories of the people, cultures and institutions that make up our community. Members of the community can share their stories: who they are, where they came from, how they got here, why they stay, what they care about, what they would like their neighbors to know about their culture and its traditions. Stories gathered will be accessible through the Syracuse Stories/ProLiteracy, “Know Your Neighbor, Know the World” project. To schedule a time to tell your story, contact syracusestories@gmail.com or sign up that day. Downtown Writer’s Center, 340 Montgomery St. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Syracuse Stories, the film. Courtney Rile’s documentary about last July’s ArtsWeek festival will be shown several times each day at two locations. Stay for a story circle or tell your own Syracuse story. Contact syracusestories@gmail.com for more information. Downtown Writer’s Center, 340 Montgomery St.; Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd. E. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown Writer’s Center. Central New York’s only literary writing center will offer activities under its tent all weekend, including collage poems, magnetic poetry and the annual six-word memoir contest. Meet faculty and browse through the library of books published by both center teachers and members, with book signings by the authors throughout the weekend. 300 block of Montgomery St. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Syracuse University Bookstore Book Fair. The centerpiece of this annual event is local fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children’s books whose authors and illustrators will be on hand to discuss, read and personally autograph their books. 300 block of Montgomery Street. bookstore.syr.edu. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Painting Demonstrations. Sandra Fioramonti, art instructor and owner of Liverpool Art Center, will be offering ongoing demonstrations in various media including oils, watercolors and acrylics. 300 block of East Onondaga Street. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Make Your Own Wrap Bracelets. Crafistas has individually packaged the exact amount of materials needed to create your very own wrap bracelet, and has even included detailed instructions to help you along the way. 300 block of East Onondaga Street. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Guardian Angel Society. Learn about the society’s mission to support the education of local children in need. The late Father Joseph Champlin’s books, Slow Down and Take Five, will be available for purchase as well as Guardian Angel Society merchandise and beautifully hand-painted wine glasses. Columbus Circle. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
July 28
Syracuse New Times Street Painting Festivals. See story, page 28.
Erie Canal Museum’s 50th Anniversary. See story, page 32.
Celebrating the diversity of culture and the arts in downtown Syracuse
Everson Museum of Art. Two exhibitions are currently on view through Sept. 2: People, Place and Progress: Local Landscapes in Paint and Print and Julie Blackmon: Other Tales from Home. Celebrate Syracuse by drawing your favorite views of downtown or create a photo collage using recycled magazines to depict your home and family life. 401 Harrison St. everson.org. City Hall Commons Plaza, 201 E. Washington St. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Serenity Gardens at Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church. Stop by to enjoy some food and beverages. While inside, feel free to have your blood pressure checked by registered nurses, who will be there to answer any questions you may have and give out material to read in your spare time. 474-1238. 300 block of East Onondaga Street. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Buck Up! Support Creativity in Syracuse. See story, page 30.
Tunnel Vision Design Contest. Armory Square is one of the most vibrant parts of Syracuse, until you circle behind the Museum of Science and Technology and behold a drab tunnel, the one leading under the railroad tracks to the so-called Trolley Lot. The 40 Below Public Arts Task Force will provide pens, crayons and blank coloring sheets to those with an idea to spruce it up. City Hall Commons Atrium, 201 E. Washington St. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
July 28-29
Typewriter Poetry Gallery. Compose a poem on an old-fashioned typewriter, and make an artistic contribution to a gallery of poems written by Syracuse poets, young and old. Drawing material will also be provided if you’d like to illustrate your work. A digital gallery of all poems will be posted online. City Hall Commons Plaza. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All events scheduled to take place in City Hall Commons Plaza will take place in City Hall Commons Atrium in the case of inclement weather.
