A fantastic 17th year …
This past weekend we were blessed with some of the finest days of the summer so far, and the people came and came to attend Arts in the Park, (although I think the locals held out for the cooler weather on Sunday!) and as they made their way to and from the event, the town was busting at the seams. This was the 17th annual event and was better and more successful thanks to the support and help from many.
First and foremost the artists, 85 of them, who set up, unpack, smile and chat with thousands of people, some who buy and some who don’t, then pack everything up again – without them there would be no Arts in the Park. THANK YOU! Also, I would like to pay a special tribute to the all-volunteer Arts in the Park committee, who work together in a happy and cohesive way all year long and then spend the weekend joyfully and tirelessly assisting artists and visitors alike – without them this event would not be the great show that it is. Our Artist of the Year, Jodi Clayton, One Lupine Fiber Arts, who has been a regular at Arts in the Park for many years with her beautiful felted work, and to our friend, Sara Shute, who created the amazing poster and publicity material using Jodi’s scarf blowing in the breeze. Then there are the musicians – Rusty Hinges, the musically eclectic group from Warren; the Belfast Bay Fiddlers, who get people up dancing and tapping their toes; Maximum Blue, at Arts in the Park for the first time, and hopefully will be back; the fantastic 195th US Army Jazz Band, who have performed at Arts in the Park for the past seven years and are so greatly appreciated; and the Blue Hill Brass – a staple and always back by popular demand. The food vendors who kept us happy in other ways – Ye Olde Fish ‘n’ Chips, The Good Kettle, the Maine Falafel Co., the Uproot Pie Co., Stone Fox Farm Creamery, and the Game Loft. Thanks to the city for letting us use that beautiful park on the harbor and waterfront, Kathy Pickering, harbormaster and her crew, Jim Bell and Parks & Rec., the Public Works department. Our security guys, Doug and Wayne; Ray Estabrook, and the Game Loft kids who help during the weekend and with clean-up; Josh and Billy – their help on Friday and Sunday was invaluable; Dennis Urick and David Boyer for all the heavy-lifting and installation of signage. Thanks to John Holmes for allowing us use of his property for artist parking, and to Malcolm Gater who so ably organized the vehicles both there and at Heritage Park. Our sponsors for their donations and contributions, without them we wouldn’t have the music or be able to publicize the event as widely: the Bangor Daily, our media sponsors who not only provided terrific coverage that attracted many visitors, but also staged the Midcoast photo contest, which was a very popular feature; Bangor Savings Bank, Cultured Canines, Front Street Shipyard, Insight Video Productions, Key Bank, Maine Coast Welcome Center, State Sand & Gravel, Belfast Harbor Inn, Colburn Shoes, Coyote Moon, The White House Inn, Mainely Naturals, The Belfast Framer, Old Stuff. Thanks to Jesse Fowler and Archangel Computers, the Penobscot Maritime Museum, and Our Town Belfast for their support and participation.
For the countless hours and all the work given generously, a huge thank you to all the volunteers who pulled it all together: The Arts in the Park Committee who work tirelessly for 10 months out of the year and will start working on next year’s event shortly: Edie Buron, Barbara Plummer, Carol Gater; on the weekend Kate Bartlett, Joan Bennett, Bob Boulier, Lane Fisher, Cathy Gleeson, Carol Good, Del Hickey, Eileen Kirby, Dale Kuhnert, Pat and Mike Skaling, Fran Torreson, and Janet Weinberg, and finally, thanks to those who support the event each year by coming and shopping, eating, listening to the music – we need you. All proceeds will go to Friends of Belfast Parks to be used for improvements of our city park facilities.
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Chris Urick
Arts in the Park Committee Chair
