THE ART OF BEEKMAN STREET
Annual art fair makes its sixth run
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.» The city’s Arts District was filled with activity on Sunday for the sixth annual Beekman Street Art Fair.
Hundreds browsed through the fair’s 50 juried artists’ booths throughout the day on Sunday, admiring and purchasing a mix of paintings, pottery, photography, jewelry, woodworking textiles and other artwork.
The festival also included musical arts for all ages, with live entertainment by local artists, an open mic for young performers and instrumentmaking crafts for children.
The idea behind the fair is for event-goers to be inspired by beautiful things up and down Beekman street, said Textile Studio owner Cecilia Lockwood, who organizes the festival along with a committee.
The Beekman Street Art Fair is funded by a Saratoga Arts’ Community Arts Grants, made possible with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
Another goal of the art fair, Lockwood said, is simply to bring people to Beekman Street, which is a little bit off the beaten path in Saratoga Springs, so they can discover the area’s businesses.
“It’s a neighborhood event but people do come from other parts of the city and other counties, Lockwood said.
Food truck, street performers and a new community mural project were all part of the festivities, too, but the biggest draw, of course, is always the art. “There’s not a lot of galleries in Saratoga, so it’s a great way for local artists to meet the public and sell directly to them,” Lockwood said, adding that those present at this year’s fair were a mix of both emerging and established artists.
“It’s a great opportunity to show my creativity and my work to a large volume of people,” said Mechanicville-based artist William Cross, which was part of the Spa City event for his second time this year. With his business Odd Lot, Cross creates one of a kind new and upcycled home furnishings and fixtures, which were a hit with attendees on Sunday.
Watercolor painter Charles Demarco of Clifton Park has been participating in the event since it first started. “I just love the people,” he said. “People appreciate the arts in Saratoga.”
Artist Sarah Haze of Round Designs, which recently opened a shop in Troy, said she likes seeing the shoppers’ reaction to her work. “That’s the great thing about markets,” she said. “You get that immediate feedback from people.”
Over in the children’s tent, committee member Kristin Marshall of Beekman Street’s Community Roots preschool was fostering the next generation of artists who may someday be featured in the Beekman Street Art Fair. Youth were invited to hand make musical instruments like African thumb pianos and rain sticks during Sunday’s event. Marshall said, “It’s really important for kids to start really young with art.”
More information on the upcoming Beekman Street Arts District and its upcoming events is available online at www.saratogaartdistrict.com.