The Art Guild of Port Washington is teaming up with HarborFest to offer residents the opportunity to paint, sculpt and view various works of art.
“It’s a fun day, we’re exhausted by the end of it, we get sunburnt, but it’s a lot of fun,” said The Art Guild Executive Director Diane Bares, who will be volunteering her time at 11th Annual Art in the Park will be held during HarborFest.
This year’s 26th Annual HarborFest celebration presented by the Chamber of Commerce will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 5 at the Town Dock, Baxter Pond and Lower Main Street in Port Washington. Art in the Park will be located at Sunset Park, which is adjacent to the Town Dock on lower Main Street.
The Art Guild of Port Washington is a nonprofit organization that provides encouragement, education and a forum for the appreciation of the visual arts, according to its website.
The Art Guild will offer two workshops during Art in the Park, including ‘Fun with Clay,’ from 12 a.m. to 1 p.m. and ‘Plein Air (Outdoor) Painting,’ that starts at 1:30 p.m. will offer participants the opportunity to paint on location at this waterfront park with the guidance of an art instructor Kristine Rivera, who teaches art classes on weekends at the Art Guild.
The workshops are free and are sponsored by the Knickerbocker Bay Club.
“It attracts an interesting mix of people because some people never got their hands on clay,” said The Art Guild Co-President Ilene Silberstein. “The still-life attracts quite a bit of adults verses children and I remember one year someone told me that they had never touched a brush before with paint.”
Art Guild members said the ‘Fun with Clay’ workshop is ideal for children 6-12 years, and will have participants exploring various hand-building techniques.
Participants will also have the opportunity to create their own custom made buttons. The button making is for all ages and will be available throughout the day.
Silberstein said children can draw on supplied paper circles using markers, and the design will go onto a button.
“It’s great because it creates this piece of art that becomes framed instantly,” Silberstein said.
In addition to the art workshops, local artists will have the opportunity to exhibit their work at this outdoor venue. The art work can include all visual media, such as painting, drawing, printmaking, photography and sculpture.
Art Guild officials said only Port Washington residents or those associated with Port either through work or membership in a Port or Manhasset visual arts organization may exhibit.
Artists can also rent a 10×10 foot space for $35, or six linear feet of show fencing for $20.
Anyone interested in participating in Art in the Park can contact Ilene Silberstein at (516)304-5797 or iSilberstein@TheArtGuild.org.
A registration form is available on the web site at www.theartguild.org.
More than 10,000 people are expected to attend this year’s HarborFest.
Admission to HarborFest is free. There is free parking and free shuttle buses at the LIRR station and Manorhaven Park.
For additional information about HarborFest, call the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce at (516) 883-6566, e-mail pwcoc@optonline.net or visit www.pwguide.com.
