VENDORS AND PATRONS gather at the Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival in 2014.
For the ninth consecutive year, The Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. Rain or shine, the festivities will fill the sidewalks of Maine Street in downtown Brunswick, as well as the Town Mall, with art, food, music and fun.
The Brunswick Outdoor Art Festival, founded by Keith Garovoy and David Nadeau and planned with assistance from the Brunswick Downtown Association, was designed to foster an appreciation of the arts within the community by artists themselves.
“One of the things that makes it so successful is that it was developed by artists,” said Garovoy who now plans the festival with co-director Roxane Rathje.
More than 130 artists contribute to the festival each year, making Brunswick a premier destination for the arts in Maine. Strolling down Maine Street, one can find the best paintings, sculptures, photographs, jewelry and other fine crafts that the state has to offer.
In addition to a plethora of artists and artisans, downtown Brunswick will also be filled with a variety of music — from Cajun to rockabilly and swing. The festival also features many different children’s activities, food vendors and demonstrations for the public to enjoy.
“The big thing is there is lots and lots of stuff for everybody,” said Garovoy.
An appearance from the awardwinning black ash basket maker JoAnn Catsos is scheduled. Catsos will be demonstrating her craft for attendees to observe. Additionally, there will be a special performance by Grammy award-winning musician, David Doucet, who will perform alongside local Cajun band JimmyJo & The Jumbol’Ayuhs.
“The BOAF is a wonderful wellrun festival enjoyed and appreciated by visitors and the participating artists.” Garovoy explained. “ 70 percent of this year’s artists are returning artists, which says a lot about the quality of our show. Though we cannot guarantee sales; we provide attendees for the artists and quality art for the attendees.”
Juried artist’s will be showcasing their talents and selling their artwork along the sidewalks of Maine Street and more than 3 dozen artisans and crafters will be displaying and demonstrating their art on the Town Mall. Downtown Brunswick will be transformed with a variety of art including painting, ceramics, glass, fiber, mixed media, wood, jewelry, printmaking, photography, metal work and sculpture. Thousands of visitors fill the sidewalks of Maine Street and the adjacent Town Mall to enjoy the Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival each year.
The festival will include varied musical entertainment on two stages. The Bank of America stage on Maine Street will feature Cajun, Blue Grass, Folk, Rock and Blues music:
10 a.m. to noon: JimmyJo & the Jumbol’Ayuhs – Cajun
Noon to 2 p.m.: Cilantro – Contemporary Classics
2-4 p.m.: The Coteries – Americana, Folk Rock, Acoustic, Blues
Performers featured on the Gazebo stage on the Town Mall will include Rock, Reggae, Jazz & Classical Guitar:
Noon to 2 p.m.: Soundwavz with Dave Bullard– Rock, Blues, Reggae & Latin Jazz
2-3 p.m.: John Waldo – Classical Guitar
2-3 p.m.: Brian Cullen – Classical Guitar
3-5 p.m.: Dave Bullard & Friends
A variety of musical acts will play at various locations on Maine Street and the adjacent Town Mall throughout the day:
Sorcha, Heather Styka, Jo Sorrell – Old Time
T’ Acadie – Acadian
Heather McCown – Fiddle
Broad Band – Fiddle
Erica Brown & the Blue Grass Connection
Soup Bone – Southern Appalachian fiddle & banjo music
The Coteries – Americana, Folk Rock, Acoustic, Blues
Marlene & Al Sinyard – Old Time
Durango 95 – Americana
Sorcha, Heather Styka, Jo Sorrell
– Old Time
Pete Wiltham and the Cosmic Zobies –Rockabillly, Rock, Twisted Americana
The festival will also feature a variety of children’s activities such as face painting by Party Palooga and The Theater Project, hula hooping, building projects by Lowes, pottery making by Ceramics with Matt, weaving with Spindleworks, and henna art offered by Remarkable Blackbird. Additional artisan demonstrations will include jewelry making by Twanda Jewerly, wood turning with Nancy Swinton, wood burning Evelyn Dean, wooden spoon carving by Ken Wise, knitting by Marlyn Lucey, fiber art with The Purple Acorn, sign making by Ould Colony Artisans, spinning and weaving with Upper Farm Alpacas and much more.
Last year, Gourmet Food vendors were added to the festival mix. At least 6 specialty food businesses will be set up on the Town Mall near the gazebo. Sample and purchase products from Park Row Kitchens Granola, Fresh Harvest IN AJAR, Guzmans Gourmet Salsa, Center Pond Maple Works and Cameron Clan Kettle Corn.
The Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival is sponsored by Mid Coast Health Services, the Tontine Mall Downtown Brunswick, Little Dog Coffee Shop and Fox 23.
For more information about the Brunswick Downtown Association or the Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival, visit http://brunswickdowntown.org/b runswick-outdoor-arts-festival/ or call (207) 729-4439.
Jenica Krall contributed to this article
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