The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
FireFish Festival expands to 2 days
Arts to boom downtown on Broadway Oct. 6-7
The annual FireFish Festival will grow to a two-day celebration of the arts in downtown Lorain Oct. 6 and 7.
On May 5, FireFish Festival announced its return with the promise to “once again transform downtown Lorain into an exciting stage for sizzling fire, arts performances and installations set to the rhythms of local and world musicians.”
“We are excited to expand the festival this year to two days, offering more opportunity for northeastern Ohioans of all ages to experience this unforgettable, one-of-a-kind festival,” said Executive Director James Levin. “We are thrilled to be attracting high profile artists wanting to be a part of the creative FireFish experience and hope to continue to draw thousands of new visitors to this hidden gem on the water that is becoming known as an art mecca.”
This year’s festival will open with an Oct. 6 concert with “an eclectic array of regionally acclaimed music groups to kick off the celebration.”
There will be a main stage on Broadway, art installations in Lorain’s storefronts and buildings and makeshift galleries along the street, according to plans.
Oct. 7 will be a day of family-friendly music,
dance, theater, art and fire performers on stage and around the alleys, storefronts, balconies and fire escapes around Broadway, according to FireFish plans.
The festival again will have a percussion parade and the ceremonial burning of the FireFish, scheduled for Oct. 7.
The announcement included names two artists who will be involved in this year’s event.
Sculptor Jim Gundlach will guide teen arts apprentices in the FireFish Arts Summer STEAM Academy to create the FireFish, the centerpiece of the festival.
The work will be at the Lorain County Community College Campana Center of Ideation and Invention, a new facility. STEAM
is short for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math, said Joan Perch, coordinator for the center and a FireFish event organizer.
Gundlach ranks among the earliest supporters hoping to connect art and business to spark more of both in Lorain County. He created the perch and walleye sculptures used in the Follow the Fish Art & Adventure Trail, the public art program that was a precursor to the FireFish Arts Festival.
Video artist Kevin Jackson will return to assist FireFish. Jackson’s 2016 video art and projection sample video includes scenes from the FireFish ArtSong fundraiser held in 2016 at the Lorain Historical Society’s Carnegie Center, 329 W. 10th St. in
Lorain.
“The 2017 festival will be even more unique than previous years, challenging visitors’ sensibilities by transforming Broadway Avenue itself into a live piece of artwork including Kevin Jackson’s brilliant video installation in which Lorain’s old post office will come alive at night in an animated vibrant palette,” according to plans.
Meanwhile, the FirstEnergy Foundation has signed on to be presenting sponsor for the third year.
“We are proud to support the FireFish Festival and cultural events in the communities where we live and work,” said foundation President Dee Lowery. “This is just another way FirstEnergy works to improve the quality of life for all our customers.”