ArtsWeek, an annual weeklong festival celebrating artists and art lovers both, will transform the streets of downtown Syracuse from Saturday, July 19, to Sunday, July 27. Festivities are scheduled to take place in Armory Square, Columbus Circle, Hanover Square and Clinton Square.
ArtsWeek is a collaboration of more than 20 arts and cultural organizations. It was made possible by the teaming of the AmeriCu Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival and the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival.
“The idea is to get people moving between the festivals,” said Laurie Reed, the director of marketing for the Downtown Committee of Syracuse.
Reed has been the director of the Syracuse Arts And Crafts festival for 30 years and expects to see more than 50,000 people swarm downtown this year. Festival highlights include the 44th annual Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival, the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival, the Stage of Nations Blue Rain EcoFest and other exhibitions and hands-on events.
Check out a video of the Stage of Nations Blue Rain ECOfest 2012 here:
The Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival at Columbus Circle runs July 25-27 and showcases artists and entertainers from 25 states and Canada.
Morning Sun and the Essentials
cnyjazz.org
The Northeast Jazz and Wine festival brings smooth tunes to Clinton Square, July 25-26, for a free jazz extravaganza. Musicians include Morning Sun & The Essentials, the Wolff-Clark Expedition with Gil Parris, Sherma Andrews, Scott Allen, and Marcus Johnson.
The Stage of Nations Blue Rain EcoFest will use live music and dance to teach about the culture of the Haudenosaunee and their legacy of caring for our environment. The vendors are eco-friendly, and they will offer food, demonstrations, live music and dance. It will be located at Hanover Square, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 25, and noon to 9:45 p.m. Saturday, July 26.
An example of some of the work from the 2013 street painting festival.
Michael Davis Photo | Syracuse New Times
The Syracuse New Times and Family Times 24th annual Street Painting Festival encourages festival-goers to get their hands dirty by participating in the street chalk contest, which will take place on the 200 block of Montgomery Street, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 26. The idea is to add some color to Syracuse’s sidewalks. In one event, The Master’s Competition, contestants will reproduce famous works of art. Cash and prizes will be given to the winners, including the opportunity to appear in the New Times.
Be sure to stop by the Everson Museum to view its ongoing exhibitions of Mary Giehl, Daniel Buckingham and Sarah McCoubrey. McCoubrey’s exhibit: Works on Paper, is on display until Aug. 24. The exhibit features her fantastical potato creatures, which she uses to explore and convey her concern for environmental issues. The museum will provide materials to the public so they can be a part of the creative process and make their own potato creatures. The Everson is also showing a science-fiction film, “Tarantula,” in partnership with the Urban Video Project in its Film Under the Stars series. The Everson recommends bringing lawn chairs to watch this 1955 thriller at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 25, in Everson’s plaza.
Other events include Syracuse University’s Bookstore Book Fair, the completion of artist Kelly Curry’s mural design on the façade of the Erie Canal Museum, and the Jazz Up Your Lunch Series.
ArtsWeek will launch on Saturday, July 19, with the 30th annual Candlelight Series. Tony Trischka will perform at 8 p.m. in Armory Square. Trischka is known for his skill with a banjo and his original songs.
