Westfield Readies For 'AddamsFest,' Calls On Local Artists To Submit Creations

WESTFIELD, NJ - Believe it or not, summer sun is already on its way out and making way for fall festivities like the AddamsFest in October.

The group behind the yearly celebration of Westfield's own Charles Addams, popular cartoonist and creator of The Addams Family, is calling on artists to be featured in the town-wide showcase. The theme of this year's display, Femme Fatale: Morticia & More, gives artists the chance to have their works alongside original works and never-before-seen sketches by Addams himself. Entrants will be handpicked by the event organizers.

Submissions should be concept art that could be done on three-dimensional female mannequin torsos that invoke The Femme Form, a companion showcase to the main art gallery. Artists are encouraged to take their turn at bringing beauty, seduction, mystery and danger to light. The deadline to submit is Sept. 3, with the artists who were chosen to proceed in creating their works being notified on Sept. 8.

A stipend of $100 will be provided for each artist to complete their works. The finished creations will then be reviewed for display in the Center for Creativity at the Rialto in October.

Other events with details released so far (As of Aug. 29):

• Morticia & Gomez's Masquerade Ball (Friday, Oct. 10)
• Charlie's Ale Garden (Saturday, Oct. 18)
• Addams Family Fun Day (Sunday, Oct. 19)

Returning this year are also favorites like the "Wicked Windows" displays, The Addams House on Mindowaskin Pond and the "Haunt Your House" contest.

This marks the eighth year that AddamsFest will turn over the town into all things Addams. Themed events and art will be scattered with famous characters and fun all throughout October.

The Addams Family is inspired by life in Westfield during the 20th Century and joins other works by Charles that were showcased famously in The New Yorker. The cartoons went on to create a world of their own, reaching television audiences, Broadway and multiple films. Addams is a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame and was inducted with the Class of 2019 in the area of "Arts & Letters."

Stay with Patch for all things AddamsFest in both September and October as new details become available.