The 40th annual event is set for Saturday and Sunday.
To mark its 40th anniversary, organizers of this weekend’s Mattoon Street Arts Festival commissioned a special poster.
The colorful poster, created by Springfield artist Gina Beaver, depicts the street’s row houses with a grayish Tin Man from the Land of Oz smiling behind some giant-sized vegetation. His appearance in the poster is a nod to longtime exhibitor Kevin Wallace, who when he isn’t busy at his booth selling his pressed horticulture framed art, roams the street in his metal Tin Man costume.
“It’s an honor, just wonderful,” said Wallace about his inclusion in the 40th anniversary poster.
“I’ve been doing if for 14 years. I’m like the greeter for the fair. Every year a lot of folks come back and bring their kids to see me and I pass out candy to everyone,” added Wallace, whose first incarnation of his costume, he’s on his third now, was for a costume party celebrating the combined 50th anniversary of the “Wizard of Oz” and “Gone with the Wind” movies.
The free arts and crafts show – whose charm lies in the fact it is held on a street lined with restored brick Victorian row houses in Springfield’s first historic district – is one of the oldest arts and crafts show in Western Massachusetts, according to Robert McCarroll, longtime festival coordinator and member of the Mattoon Street Historic Preservation Society.
This year’s festival, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, will feature original works created by painters, photographers, potters, jewelers, weavers, glass workers, and other talented craftspeople, most of whom are from the Pioneer Valley.
“This is our biggest show in the past 25 years, we have some 105 exhibitors and there is no room to add any others. We’re just really excited to have endured for 40 years, and that is due in part to the unique place where we hold our festival, the fact that we’re free, and our exhibitors sell reasonably-priced, quality items,” said McCarroll.
Returning to this year’s festival will be Jack Holowitz Photography of Springfield, the longest returning exhibitor who has been at 18 of the annual Mattoon Street Arts Festivals.
“The whole neighborhood gets involved and, if the weather cooperates since it’s outdoors, it’s a really nice weekend with great entertainment and food alongside the many pieces of art and handmade crafts of all kinds for sale,” said Holowitz, who lives 10 minutes away from Mattoon Street.
Best known as a commercial portrait photographer, Holowitz will be showing off his talents at landscape photograph by offering for sale his original back and white landscape photos straight from the dark room, not digital. His collection includes beautiful sights around New England and the western United States, including California and Utah, featuring natural wonders and attractions from the country’s many national parks such as Yosemite.
Among the new exhibitors setting up shop at this year’s fest will be quilter Lisa Berezin of Wilbraham. Not only is it her first time as an exhibitor at Mattoon Street, it’s also her first-time appearance at any arts and crafts fest.
“I’ve always loved the Mattoon Street Arts Festival and recall going there many times with my mom since I was a kid,” said Berezin, whose quilts were described by McCarroll as “very lively and fairly non-traditional.”
“I’ve been making quilts for about 20 years and just started my own business called Little Moose Designs. I’m really excited about this being my first show and am praying for good weather. The festival is just the right size for me to start and as an exhibitor it’s priced right for the size of my business,” she added.
Berezin, who designs and creates memory quilts for weddings, birthdays, christenings and other occasions by special order, will also be displaying and selling her other original quilts which she said feature “funky colors for non-traditional New England quilts that are fun for people.”
Among her many inspired quilts include one as a tribute to the Grateful Dead and another for fans of the “Twilight” movies. There’s also her unusual baby quilt filled with squares of what she called “strong-armed gentlemen,” a busy bee quilt with beautiful tulips that she said is “a lovely taste of spring guaranteed to keep you warm in the winter,” and her new tropical quilt filled with cabanas, palm trees and more.
Despite being new to the market, Berezin’s quilts have already been featured in Living Spaces magazine, which recently featured a photo tour of contemporary glass artist Josh Simpson’s home where one of her quilts lies on his bed.
The entertainment arts are also well-represented at this weekend’s Mattoon St. Festival with street performances planned by violinist Stacia Filipiak, Mariachi guitarist Judy Simonds, saxophonist Paul LaValley, Celtic harpist Sophie Dickinson, Bill Glenny’s Dixieland Duo, lutist Meg Pash, piper Chris Cunningham, saxophonist George David and guitarist Zack Danziger, New York vocalist Karen Davis, accordionist Jim Dascanio, singer Vicki Phillips accompanied by Shawn Mansfield on guitar, and the Hungry Man’s Army band.
And, the culinary arts aren’t forgotten, either, with several crafters selling homemade delights and a food court offering treats from Mexitalia, Elke’s Catering, April’s Wings N Things, Alvin’s Ice Cream, and Crepes Tea House.
As part of this year’s 40th anniversary celebration of the festival – it’s also the 40th anniversary of the Quadrangle-Mattoon Historic District and the Springfield Preservation Trust – there will be special home tours on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. of several houses on Mattoon and Elliot Streets, including the rectory of Saint Michael’s Cathedral. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the Springfield Preservation Trust or at Flowers, Flowers or the Flower Box in Springfield. Advance tickets for a look at the inside beauty of the neighborhood’s historic homes are $15 or $20 on the day of the tours.
Also, on Sunday, there will be self-guided tours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. of several hidden gardens tucked behind the many brick houses on Mattoon Street. Tickets to view the hidden oases are $5 or free to those who can show their previous day’s ticket to the home tour.