So many artists signed up to participate in the weekend event, April 27 and 28, that it is now being held in two venues, Town Hall and the Falls Congregational Church.
Planning their exhibits for the upcoming Creativity Days in South Hadley Falls, are: Laura Bundesen, upcycled furniture art; Karen Walsh-Pio, artist and singer; Timna Tarr, art quilt designer; and Ingrid Apgar, artist and singer.
By MARY ANN BAIL
SOUTH HADLEY - The Cultural Council will present for the first time, Creativity Days - Bringing the Arts Together, a two-day event on April 27 and 28, at Town Hall and Falls Congregational Church.
"The general intent is to showcase the artists, both visual and performance, who reside or work in town," said Walter Morse, coordinator for the event. "They do not have a organization that connects them. We are hoping that this event will provide some means for artists to get connected.
"So many have responded to our invitation that we have had to expand our event to include the Town Hall and Falls Congregational Church," added Morse.
Dozens of visual artists, whose work ranges from oils, watercolors, batik, art quilts, charcoals, photography, lapidary to jewelry, will participate. Items are available for sale through the artists only.
Ingrid Apgar's artwork provides views into South Hadley and surrounding areas with corn fields, mountain ranges and horses by the roadside.
Timna Tarr completed the design for a quilt her grandmother started for a pattern requested by the American Quilter's Society years ago.
Laura Bundesen will display her "upcycled," functional, one-of-a-kind furniture and home accessories.
A line-up of performing artists at Town Hall and the church will include Gail Herman, a well-known storyteller and mime; Samantha Beyer, a young singer; and the South Hadley High School Sh*Improv, a group of actors who take their inspiration from the audience. "Jonathan Harvey and the South Hadley Chorale," said Morse, "speaks for itself."
Students from the Massachusetts Academy of Ballet will perform, too. "Although the school is located in Holyoke," said Morse, "the founders and directors, Charles and Rose Flachs, are South Hadley residents and teach at Mount Holyoke College."
Karen Walsh Pio will bring her traditional 1960s folk music and her friends Dave Letellier and Mark McMenamin to the stage. She also will show two of her charcoal drawings.
Morse said two members of the South Hadley High School faculty, Maureen McNally, the chairwoman of the Fine Arts Department, and Bill O'Neil of the Woodworking Department, assisted in developing promotional materials for the event.
Serving with Morse on the Cultural Council are Lucia Foley, who is the chair, Bobbie Salthouse, the vice chair, secretary Martha Terry, treasurer Richard Matteson, and Marion Canning, Renee Sweeney and Sue Barry.
This event is funded in part by the state Cultural Council and corporate sponsors Canson Inc., Big Y, Easthampton Savings Bank and PeoplesBank.