Festival Highlights
Festival of Arts
Festival Runway Show
Creativity and ecology will collide once again when the Festival of Arts hosts its second annual Festival Runway Fashion Show from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, featuring the talented festival artists’ eco-friendly fashion designs.
The Project Runway spin-off will challenge the “designers” to create an ensemble of at least 80% recycled materials, to be critiqued by a panel of celebrity judges, including actress Joely Fisher, artist Andre Miripolsky and Arts Commissioner and fashion executive Suzi Chavel.
The designers will compete for $1,000, $500 and $250 cash prizes.
Last year’s winning team of Barbara Hendricks and Luciano Bortone wouldn’t reveal much about this year’s entry, but said they know the pressure is on to repeat a win.
“We have been collecting materials all year long. Now it’s time to ‘make it work’ as Tim Gunn [of Project Runway] would say,” Hendricks said.
Along with Hendricks and Bortone, competing for the top prize are individuals Dagmar Chaplin, Bradley Elsberry, Rick Graves, Mike Tauber, team David Milton and Janet Lewis, and team Adam Neeley and Troels Larsen.
The community is encouraged to participate and cast their votes for the People’s Choice Award. Anyone who does will get a cupcake from Charmed Cupcakes.
Art of Cooking
The Festival of Arts’ weekly “Art of Cooking” event will feature the Loft’s chef de cuisine, Casey Overton, from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Overton is used to actively involving an audience in his food preparation, as he and fellow Montage chefs routinely share creative ingredients, rare wines and cheeses with guests at the restaurant.
“I am passionate about providing guests dishes highlighting wonderful ingredients prepared simply,” he said. “I focus on three to four ingredients in a dish and prepare them perfectly. My love for food led me to be passionate about sourcing wonderful ingredients and the best produce.”
Prior to joining Montage, where Overton was recently promoted to sous chef and works with Executive Chef Craig Strong, he completed his apprenticeship at Aubergine in Newport Beach.
He will demonstrate his culinary expertise and give samples and recipes to the guests who attend his demonstration.
Admission to this demonstration is free with festival admission.
Beatlemania
Rock out to a hard day’s night Sunday, when Jason Feddy and Friends cover Beatles classics from 6 to 8 p.m. as part of the festival’s weekly Beatlemania event.
Accompanied by John Troy, Geoff Pearlman and Evan Stone, Feddy will perform Beatles favorites in his own “rootsy” style.
“When Special Events Director Susan Davis asked us to perform for the third summer in a row, we said of course,” Feddy said. “We’re so happy to be back by popular demand, and we’ve added new songs to our set. For any musician to get a chance to revisit Beatles’ songs is incredibly educational and fun.”
Sawdust Festival
Music Entertainment
The Sawdust Festival will feature an array of musical talent, including a performance by Beth and Steve Wood from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Tavern; Abbit the Average from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Roving; Midnight Blues from noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday on the Main Deck; tunes from Chris and Sue from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Monday at the Tavern; back-to-back performances by Kelly Fitzgerald from 5:30 to 9:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Main Deck and 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tavern on Wednesday; and the Isle Serenaders will serenade the crowd from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Tavern.
For a complete list of performances, visit https://www.sawdustartfestival.org.
Classes and Workshops
Many Sawdust artists will offer classes and workshops for patrons who want to try their hand at something creative. For $5, create a colorful Mandala with artist Kristi Smith from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. today at the Sawdust Studio; learn the craft of Navajo blankets from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Children’s Art Spot; children can create finger puppets from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday with Stacy Taxin at the Children’s Art Spot; on Tuesday, learn the art of paper flowers with Lupe Blanton from noon to 12:45 p.m. at the Sawdust Studio; and have Fun with Clay from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday with potter Jennifer Wedner at the Ceramic Center.
Many of these classes and workshops will run throughout the week. For a complete list, visit https://www.sawdustfestival.org.
Art-A-Fair
Music Performances
Art-A-Fair will host an eclectic mix of performers throughout the week, including a pop-rock show with Bob Johnson from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight; Modern Country from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday with Sway; Huge Blues will sing some Delta Blues from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday; and Latin guitarist Robert Earl Longley will perform from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Workshops
New to Art-A-Fair this year are daily workshops, including Chinese Brush Painting with K.C. Horng today; Classic Beading with Janeen Shagman on Sunday; Watercolor with Barbara Kimmel-Palmer on Monday; Oil and Palette Knife with Elaine Hughes on Tuesday; Acrylic Painting with Carol Heiman-Greene on Wednesday; and Drawing with Sharon Cannon on Thursday.
For more information about the workshops, including agendas and costs, visit https://www.art-a-fair.com/workshops.