FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 10, 2008
4thFRIDAY WESTBROOK ART WALKS TO START MAY 23, 2008
The Creative Economy is alive and well in Westbrook, Maine. A group of Westbrook artists and the Mayor's Arts and Culture Committee have planned Fourth Friday Westbrook Art Walks, "a movable feast". The first Fourth Friday will be May 23rd from 5-8 pm. A dozen artist's studios will be open in the Dana Warp Mill at 90 Bridge St. as well as a downtown gallery and several artist studios in and near the downtown. Artists will open their studios to show their work and highlight the new cultural and artistic energy in Westbrook.
"Downtown restaurants are also excited to participate" said Jim Belanger and Tom Gangewer of Burrito at 652 Main St. Other local restaurants offer a full range of options from fine dining, ethnic fare, pizza to coffee shops including the Frog and Turtle Gastro Pub, Casa Novello, Fajita Grill, Freaky Bean, Main St Cafe, Profenno?s, Northern Gardens, Siam Square, Portland Pie Company, Angelone?s West, China Villa, Stockhouse Restaurant, and Thanksgivings.
Warren Memorial Library at 479 Main St will be participating with a 7 pm free concert by singer/songwriter Sara Cox. Sara has received national attention for her music and was named Portland's Best Female Vocalist in 2003.
The Bakery Photographic Collective at the Dana Warp Mill will be open, the collective moved to new facilities in the Dana Warp Mill in 2006 with fourteen members including some of Maine's foremost photographers. Also in the Dana Warp Mill is the studio of George Hughes and Ed Zelinsky, former Conwell Award winners, who share a space on the 3rd floor of the Dana Warp Mill. For the last 3 years they have been producing constructions, paintings, and drawings. The Dana Warp Mill is home to the studio of a native of France, Jean-Pierre Rousset a photographer and a painter. He has exhibited widely in Europe for twenty years, including Paris City Hall. The studios of Richard Garrigus, MECA grad abstract painter,Greg Parker and several other artists' studios are located in the former spinning mill on the Presumpscot River and will be open to the public. Acorn Productions Theater Studio and Greater Portland School of Jukado will be open offering live performances and information. Drouin Dance Center will present it's students performing works from classes, student pieces and from the dance company repertoire.
Other participating artists with open studios in town include: Ian Anderson, MECA professor and Assoc. Dean, potter, sculptor, graphic designer and prankster; Kari Radasch, MECA grad, studio potter; Caren-Marie Michel, MECA Grad, landscape painter; Fred Michel, garden photographer; Mary Brooking an expressionist landscape painter; Andy Curran painter whose greeting card company Dogstar Creations is on Main St.; and nearby Westbrook Picture Frame and Fine Arts Gallery.
Westbrook Mayor Bruce Chuluda says of the art walks "The work of our Arts and Culture Committee to recognize and support the creative community in Westbrook is greatly appreciated by me. Establishing a 'Fourth Friday' Art Walk in our downtown can only help to further grow and promote our business community and our entire City."
Ellen Joyce, Chair of the Arts and Culture Committee says "The arts and culture committee is excited to help get the word out that artists live and work in Westbrook. The 4th Friday Art Walks will put out the welcome mat to southern Maine art lovers"
The entire route is easily walkable with downtown FREE PARKING behind the CVS store. Maps will be available at downtown businesses, studios, the Dana Warp Mill and at www.westbrookartsandculture.com###
Press Contact: Caren Michel: 207-854-2378 cmichel@maine.rr.com
For more information:
Contact: Caren-Marie Michel
Phone: 207/854-2378
email: cmichel@maine.rr.com
WWW: www.westbrookartsandculture.org
