Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Art league brings their works to the Peach Fest

(above) Vicky Fritz's work is displayed at the barn at Fountain Park. Fritz is a long-time Wilbraham resident and teaches oil panting.Reminder Publications submitted photo
By Debbie Gardner

PRIME Editor



WILBRAHAM The Wilbraham Art League (WAL) will be in residence at the Peach Festival on Aug. 18 and members hope festivalgoers will stop by the Fountain Park barn to see what they have to show . and sell.

According to WAL Publicity Chair Joyce Emerle, approximately 20 members will be showing their work on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.

Refreshments will be served, and information on the WAL and its upcoming schedule of events, including a Sept. 17 oil painting workshop with former Wilbraham artist Rob Brooks, will also be available.

And though this won't be the WAL's first show at the barn they've been hosting displays by 10 to 12 artists during the town's Thursday night concert series the group is really hoping to showcase the breath of local talent at this event.

"Carol Russell will be exhibiting her glass, she does lamps and firescreens and jewelry," Emerle told Reminder Publications. "Jerry Wilson will be exhibiting his sculptures and pottery. We have a wood carver and his specialty is carving birds. I believe he will be exhibiting."

She said painters working in all mediums will also have work on display, as will some local photographers.

"I also do photography and will be exhibiting photographs along with my watercolors," Emerle said.

But showcasing local artist work isn't the only goal of the WAL's one-day show at the Peach Festival.

According to founding member and children's book author and illustrator Kris Crimmins, the League is also looking at the Peach Festival event as a way to let more people know about the Wilbraham Art League.

"Some [artists] will be in the barn and some will be outside," said Crimmins. "We'll be roaming around handing out pamphlets and such."

Emerle said the League hopes the outreach will attract more members as well as "help the area be more aware of the arts."

In talking about the WAL, Crimmins said the five-month-old organization recently realized it "isn't even on the town list of community activities."

"We're working on getting more information out on the town Web site and just letting people know we're here," she said.

To an artist like herself, Crimmins said the monthly WAL meetings and workshops, and weekly Plein Air painting sessions, have helped her feel connected to the local artistic community.

"It's nice to meet other artists because [art] is a very isolating career," she said. "We spend a lot of time in our studios."



For a complete list of Peach Fest activities, click here 2007 Peach Festival.