Art on Easy Street this Saturday

Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:03 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

The Rowan Arts Council will present the 6th annual Arts on Easy Street Summer Arts Festival this Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Live Music will continue until 6 pm.

In response to a request from the Rowan Arts Council, the Salisbury City Council approved a proclamation naming June 20 "Day of the Arts." Multiple events throughout the day and evening are planned in celebration.

Art on Easy Street Summer Arts Festival will take place in the F&M Bank parking lot adjacent to Easy Street and bordered by Main Street, Liberty Street and North Lee Street. The festival has grown this year to include three blocks of North Lee Street to accommodate 102 artists' booths and the stage on Liberty Street will host live performances.

The festival starts at 10 a.m. with a reading of the Day of the Arts proclamation by Councilman Mark Lewis. There will be a presentation on stage at noon by the Public Appearance Committee to award the prize-winning artists of the Salisbury Sculpture Show.

"Art on Easy Street continues to get bigger and better," says Marietta Smith, executive director of the Rowan Arts Council. "We are delighted to have so many artists and such a wide variety of beautiful work.

"This year we have a lot of very unusual items. We have so many artists that the booths will line North Lee all the way to the Railwalk Arts District where there will be even more Day of the Arts events. It's going to be one huge celebration of the arts and will continue into the night at the Black Box Theater with Rowan Blues and Jazz Society and St. Thomas Players at Catawba College.

"We have also extended the number of food vendors in response to requests from last year's attendees. What a way to start the summer!"

The festival is free and open to the public. Art on Easy Street is made possible by funding from the NC Arts Council, Rowan Investment Company, F&M Bank, Fairway Outdoor and Caniche, along with RAC members and sponsors.

Shirl Hull is chairing the event again this year and would still love to hear from any one who would like to volunteer.

They should call the Arts Council at 704-638-9987 or contact by email at rac@rowanarts.org.

Performance schedule on east Street Festival stage:10 a.m.— Proclamation;

10:15 am – noon — Soft jazz with Double J;

Noon — Presentation for Salisbury Sculpture Show;

12:10-1 p.m. – Belly Dance Rowan;

1-2:30 p.m. — The Salisbury Swing Band;

2:30 – 3 p.m. The Polka Dots;

3-4 p.m. — Obakunle Akinlana, African storyteller;

4- 6 p.m. — Music by Fusion.