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Date: 5/4/2022
WARE – Workshop13, a local nonprofit cultural art and learning center, drew in crowds with the offering of its inaugural “How I Do What I Do” Spring Festival.
This two-day event featured an array of local poets, artists and musicians, who share their creative process through performance and presentation. Kicking off the festival on April 10, was fantasy artist and illustrator Gary Lippincott, poet Dimitry Rimsky and musician Marylou Ferrante.
On April 24, the second half of the event took place, featuring poet Bill O’Connell, fiber artist Katherine McClelland and musician Peter Blanchette.
The festival took place inside the Grand Hall of Workshop13’s main location, 13 Church St. Marie Lauderdale, executive director of Workshop13, said each day attracted nearly 50 attendees.
She explained that they decided to host this event as a way to explore various art forms. “When people see [different art forms] they’re like ‘Oh, wow, I would like to know how they do that,’” said Lauderdale.
By highlighting an artist, poet and musician each day, Lauderdale said it was a “more interactive” experience, as people had the opportunity to engage with them and ask questions.
“The artists shared a little bit of their history,” said Lauderdale. For instance, Lippincott told attendees that he wakes up at 4:30 a.m. every day and goes to the studio, regardless of how he is feeling. Lauderdale noted that the biggest takeaway from all the artists and creators was that consistency and repetition is key.
As this was their first time hosting the Spring Festival, Lauderdale was pleased with the turnout, although she had hoped for more. She said they are still receiving feedback from attendees, which so far, has been a mixed bag. For some, Lauderdale said they enjoyed learning about various art forms, whereas others have a particular preference. She is hopeful that the feedback will assist in planning next year’s festival.
The Spring Festival was funded through a grant from the Mass Cultural Council.
Workshop13 has more events slated for this year. On May 6, they will host “The Word,” which is an open poetry series. This event takes place on the first Friday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event begins at 7 p.m. The night always ends with a featured poet, said Lauderdale. Beer, wine and soft drinks will be served, along with complimentary popcorn. While there is no cost to attend the event, Lauderdale said there is a $5 suggested donation to enter.
On May 20, Workshop13 will host an open mic music night. This occurs the third Friday of every month. “It’s hard to find a better open mic than ours,” said Lauderdale, based on their professional sound and lighting. She added that there is a “listening audience,” as everyone there is listening to the performer, compared to attending an open mic night at a bar.
On June 18, Workshop13 will be hosting “Rock the Park,” in Grenville Park. This all-day music and arts festival has a beer garden, food trucks, art demonstrations, live music and more, said Lauderdale. As of press time, vendor and artist space is still available.
A protracted list of upcoming events can be found on their website at https://www.workshop13.org/. Workshop13 can also be found on social media, such as Facebook and Instagram.
Workshop13 was established in 2013, hence the name “Workshop13,” said Lauderdale, in addition to its 13 Church St. location. “We’ve been growing very quickly,” as they are the only art organization of its kind in the area, she added. “We serve a big demographic.”
Lauderdale said they have artists submitting their work from all over New England.
In addition to their performing arts venue on Church Street, Workshop13 has another location around the corner called “ClayWorks” on Main Street. Here, students learn the art of clay, while artists perfect their craft, said Lauderdale. Adjacent to ClayWorks is their third location, an art gallery exhibition.
Over the past few weeks, Lauderdale has noticed an increase in event participation as COVID-19 restrictions have eased. She said they hosted a variety of music events, including their open mic night. “It was almost at 100 percent capacity,” she said. The Grand Hall can hold up to 90 people. Moving forward, Lauderdale hopes to see a continuation of this positive trend.