Susannah Baker Bell is hoping the rain will stay away and she’ll be able to display her art at the upcoming Riverwalk Fine Arts Festival.
“I was just crushed,” she said of last year’s event, when weather forced a cancellation. “So I’m thrilled for this year.”
The Riverwalk Fine Arts Festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 9, weather permitting, and will include works from about 40 to 45 artists. Organizer Susan Eldridge, of the Westbrook Chamber of Commerce, said the festival will feature a variety of fine arts, including water colors, oils, pastels and photography. Most of the artists are local, but some will be coming from Kennebunk and New Hampshire. The chamber sponsors the event, which is in its fifth year.
Fifty-five artists signed up for the 2005 show. “Last year was totally rained out because of the hurricane, so this year will be a rebuilding year,” said Eldridge. Despite the drop in participating artists, the festival will be held in Riverbank Park instead of the Boardwalk, its previous location.
City Administrator Jerre Bryant is hoping the festival will grow.
“With a growing arts community, hopefully that’ll help strengthen the event and get local artists involved in its planning and management,” said Bryant. “The desire has been to get the local arts community more involved.”
Pat Apt, a printmaker who recently moved to Westbrook from Portland, will be participating for the first time, and she is hoping to meet her fellow artists and see what kind of work they’re doing. Apt has spent much of the last 15 years in the artist community in Guadalajara, Mexico, and is anxious to connect with the community in Westbrook.
“I hope the weather is nice and I get to meet some people,” said Apt. “I’ve heard the festival is really good.”
Bell said Westbrook is just beginning its growth as an arts community. “I really think Westbrook has potential. It’s like a secret,” she said. “And as an artist, I’d really like to get in in the beginning.”
According to Bell, the Riverwalk Fine Arts Festival is in its infancy, and will continue to expand through the years. “It’s a young festival,” she said, although she added it was a nice, well-run show. “I’m enjoying the fact that it’s only five years old. I think I can grow with this festival.”
Apt said she enjoys festivals such as these because they give artists the chance to talk with the people looking at and potentially buying their art. She said it’s different showing in a gallery, because the artist is rarely there when someone purchases their art. “It’s a nice getting together of people who enjoy art,” she said.
Bell said she enjoys being able to see what other artists are doing and feed off their work. “That’s the best part,” she said. “If you don’t see what’s out there, you’ll never evolve.”
“You can’t just sit at home with an easel,” she said. “A lot of this is just about camaraderie among artists. You’ve got to have the camaraderie.”
Another reason the artists enjoy the festival is its simplicity. It’s only one day, and there are no great expenses for them. “They come that morning, set up, and knock down that night,” said Eldridge.
The festival will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A panel will award cash prizes for works judged to be the best in the show. Vendors will sell food, and several local businesses, as well as Mayor Bruce Chuluda, have made guarantees to purchase works.
The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 10.
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