I visited with four friends in their tents on Montgomery Street yesterday. They are all participating in the AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, which continues today from 10 am – 5 pm. The festival occupies and includes four streets around Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse, New York.
While the Everson Museum of Art is celebrating fifty years in the biz with all sorts of amazing events throughout the year, the AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is clocking forty-nine. The fest is located on and around Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse, New York with lots of artwork, jewelry, accessories and functional pottery. And musical performances, food trucks (Carvel Ice Cream!) and even a vagabond stilt walker or two. The first two days are clocked out but you can stroll the event tomorrow from 10am – 5pm.
I found Peter Valenti and his wife in their prime location right on the circle. Peter is a retired public school art teacher (East Syracuse-Minoa) who has always been a working artist. He is a member of the Independent Potters’ Association (IPA) and one of the premiere ceramists in the area. If you don’t collect his work, you should.
Valenti creates the slabs then bisque fires them. His fabulous glazing effects are by way of raku firing. The colors and patterning (dragonflies, ginko leaf) lend themselves well with Arts & Crafts style and yet, they have a modern flavor and would compliment any home décor. <3
For more information, contact the artist at pvalentistudios@gmail.com.
Each year the AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival holds a chalk drawing contest on the sidewalk, sponsored by the Syracuse New Times.
My work colleague and friend Gina Fargnoli took 2nd place this year! Congratulations, Gina!
Gina loves turtles, so it is no surprise that she chose one as her iconography for her pastel work.
Gina was a long term substitute in art in our district last year. She taught at the middle school for the first semester of the school year. She will be working as a full-time high school art teacher this year, teaching Photography and Computer Graphics! Chittenango is lucky to have her. She is amazingly talented.
Here are some other pictures she took during the festival. I think the lion drawing took top honors!
Yesterday was one of those perfect days where I accomplished everything I said I would do. I did pilates, as well as some light housekeeping then went to my hair appointment (love you, Amanda!), hiked at Green Lakes State Park, and ended up downtown for some great art and music!
For real, lol. I took these pictures and everything (for those of you who maybe thought I was still off my rocker chasing Pokemon).
The AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is in full swing. I caught the tail end of it last night – the vendors will be there all day today and tomorrow until 6:00pm in Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse, New York. A lot of my friends/Facebook friends are there: Michelle DaRin, Barbara Conte-Gaugel, Peter Valenti, Tim See, and Michael Heagerty, as well as dozens of artisans from around here and out of the area.
There is so much to see. There’s clothing, jewelry and accessories, paintings, ceramics, furniture, soaps…. It is really an incredible experience. And since working the Lavender Fest for Michelle that time, I can appreciate the dedication it takes to spend all day in a small tent in ninety-degree heat with few bathroom breaks in order to interact with customers face-to-face.
I think that is the best part of making a purchase from one of the vendors – that you get to know them and you walk away with an experience rather than just some trinket. You experience the artist’s passion for what they do and you take with you a part of them, the part that contains a vast amount of love.
That is truly special. I love that.
Last night’s music event in Clinton and Hanover Squares was the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival. More music tonight with the band Atlas taking the stage around 8:00 pm! Hope to see you there!
