Arts Are at the Heart of Weekend Fest

The arts take center stage this weekend as the town celebrates the Grafton Fine Arts & Music Festival at the .

An array of artistic endeavors is scheduled throughout the three-day event. The activities are as follows:

Friday, March 23, 7 to 9 p.m.

An artist reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. On display will be more than 350 pieces of art by more than 150 artists. The art show will be judged by a panel of judges: Shiv Verma, Bruce Wood, Irina Parfenova and Rick Cardoza.

The judges will choose winners in a blind process, and the winners will be announced at the reception. The award ceremony will open with Matthew Vera singing, “God Bless America.” Stephen Halpert, festival’s founder, will address the artists and announce the award winners.

Representatives from the festival sponsors, and Grafton Land Trust, will assist in presenting artist awards.  Mike Field’s Red Fire Sax Choir will entertain the artists and their guests during the reception while artist Cristi Winon Collari will demonstrate the technique of paste paper design.

Saturday, March 24, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The day will start with the student reception at 11 a.m. Look for many artist demonstrations all weekend, including many demonstrations for children by professional artists and the Worcester Art Museum on Saturday.

The following workshops will take place: The Didgeridoo Music Experience (noon to 3 p.m.), Creative Doodling (noon to 1:30 p.m.), Introduction to Paste Paper (1 to 4 p.m.), Collage for All! (noon to 2 p.m.), How to Hand Paint Fabric (3:30  to 5:30 pm), Create a Kaleidoscope Drawing (2 to 4 p.m.), Goodbye Jack Frost: Mural Making for Kids (1:30 to 2:30 pm). Contact Reina Rago at r.rago@amsacs.org to pre-register.

Musical performances will take place on stage throughout the day:

            Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Apple Tree Arts Flute Choir

            1 to 1:45 p.m.:  Smokin’ Pigeons

            2: to 2:45 p.m.: Dance It Up

            3 to 3:45 p.m.: Hannah Bates, guitar, vocal

            4 to 4:45 p.m.: Jack Herndon, piano

            5 to 5:45 p.m.: Jacob Lachapelle, cello

Grafton Fine Arts and Music Festival is collaborating with the Worcester Cultural Coalition and invites attendees to check out their table. As part of this collaboration, the admission to this year’s festival is free to WOO card holders.

Anyone attending or participating who purchases a WOO Card at the festival will be entered into a raffle to win two tickets to “Celtic Crossroads” at The Hanover Theatre at 2 p.m. March 25. The winner will be announced and notified by 6 p.m. Saturday, March 24.

Sunday, March 25, Noon to 3 p.m.

Art demonstrations include Zentangle, Saori weaving and a number of expert watercolorists.

The following workshops will take place: Woven Silver Jewelry (noon to 3 p.m.), Hand Drumming for All (noon to 1 p.m.), Make a Personal Shrine (noon to 2 p.m.), Japanese Stab book binding, (noon to 3 p.m.) and annual bead party for kids. (1:30 to 3:30 pm). Contact Reina Rago at r.rago@amsacs.org to pre-register.

The music stage will be busy as well:

            Noon to 12: 30 p.m.: Jan and Brian Barlow 

            12:45 to 1:30 p.m.: Grafton Community Chorus

            1:30 to 1:55 p.m: Grafton Community Chorus

            1:30 to 1:55 p.m.: Broadway and pop duos, trios, quartets

            2: to 2:30 p.m.: Bayda Asbridge, dance

            2:30 to 3 p.m.: Maya Asbridge, flute

The demonstrations and musical performances are all free with festival admission, while the workshops cost a small fee depending on materials.

Adult admission for Friday's catered event is $5 and for Saturday and Sunday's activities is $3. Children younger than 5 years old are admitted free.