ARTISTS APLENTY
Spa City hosts annual Beekman Street Art Fair
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.» Beekman Street was bustling with art, artists and art-lovers on Sunday for the fifth annual Beekman Street Art Fair.
Hundreds of event-goers came out to see the more than 50 artists displaying their work on Sunday afternoon along Beekman Street, part of the Beekman Street Arts District.
Artwork for sale included paintings, ceramics, fiber art, jewelry, woodwork and mixed media.
“This just brings out the art in the art district of Beekman Street,” said coorganizer Susan Rivers. “It comes alive, and this is what it’s all about: the art and soul of Saratoga.”
The Beekman Street Art Fair aims to be a venue for the public to meet the makers and see their latest artwork.
Hosted by The Arts District on Beekman, Inc, this free all-day family-friendly festival also featured a children’s art park operated by Community Roots Preschool, food vendors, street performers, and a tent with entertainment for all ages.
The fifth annual art fair was coordinated by residents and local artists Belinda Colon, Jeri Favreau, Cecilia Lockwood, Lara McBride, Betsy Olmsted and Susan Rivers.
“It’s going be be a great day. It’s all we hoped for,” Rivers said of the warm, sunny weather.
The artists in this year’s festival came from as far away as Massachusetts, Vermont and Pennsylvania, “but we also showcase a lot of locals, a lot of Saratogians,” Rivers said. “That’s what makes it such a community event. We have folks that come from fair and wide that have been doing
it for five years because they love the fair, and some of our hometown folks.”
Many of the artists reside right in the Capital Region, like Susan Beadle of Queensbury. Beadle has been participating in the Beekman Street Art Fair for three years, showing her acrylic paintings, which often comes in restored antique frames.
“I paint only stuff that moves me,” Beadle said, adding that she sometimes uses flowers from her own garden and her mother’s vases as subjects. “I like things that tell a story and make people wonder, ‘Why did she pick this?’”
On Sunday, Beadle was very happy to be showing her work at the local fair.
“It’s a beautiful day, and this is a really nice festival with very knowledgeable people,” she said.
The Beekman Street Art Fair also welcomed several new participating artists this year, such as Brian Hewitt and Dawn Dishaw and old friends Serenity Bamboo Flutes, 22 Shades of Gray and Crazy like a Loom.
First-time attendees Mike and Ellen Leary, who are relocating to the Saratoga Springs area, thought they would come check out the Beekman Street Art Fair after hearing a lot about it. “So far it’s great, we love the music,” Ellen said.
“And everyone is so friendly,” Mike added.
These art-lovers were excited to find some pieces that could decorate their new home.
Over in the Children’s Art Park, kids had the opportunity to make nature-based art like seed mandalas and rainbow watercolor butterflies. The purpose of the event, Rivers said, is to bring art to the masses and give a venue for the artists to showcase their work in a beautiful family-friendly environment.
The fifth annual Beekman Street Art Fair is funded by a Community Arts Grant from Saratoga Arts. These grants are made possible with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The coordinators are thankful for this support, Rivers said. “We’ve been very blessed.”