Art will stand and sit on display Saturday for the annual show at Grove Street Plaza, but it will also dance and be heard.
Ballet from Go Figure will be performed at noon (and give away grip socks while supplies last), followed by a 1 p.m. performance from a certified instructor from Club Pilates, which is opening soon in the former location of Panera Bread. (They’ll be giving away bottled water to visitors while supplies last.)
A “Montmartre, Paris-style fine art show”
These are the latest additions to the performance schedule at the Darien arts festival, which features painters, photographers and other artists displaying their work, along with food for sale and, it appears, sunshine and temperatures getting up to 83 degrees (get that bottled water).
“My goal is creating a free art event which everybody can come and enjoy,” said Darien artist Nobuku “Nobu” Miki, who organized the annual show. “I got live string music, flower arrangement show, magician, kids art show, kids French lesson from a native, and now I’ve added performance art.
“They have all participated as volunteers to support our free event,” she said. “I believe there is no other art event like ours.” The art celebration, now in its third year at Grove Street Plaza, is inspired by the artists of Montmartre in Paris.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Most of the artwork from this year’s 20 participating artists is for sale at $500 or less. You can find samples of their artwork here. A portion of all proceeds from the sale of art will benefit the Darien Library gallery and Darien Arts Center.
Other scheduled activities at this year’s event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Kids and teens artworks received by Darien Arts Center volunteers for the
- 10 a.m. — A demonstration of French-themed flower arranging by Jaime Hayes fromThe Gardener’s Center & Florist
- 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Strolling/walk-around “close-up magic” for ALL AGES by Magician-entertainer Steve Dane.
- — All day — Live violin, viola, cello performance by Akiko Silver’s Chamber Music Institute
Some of the Food Offered at the Event
- NEAT coffee: Event special: Cafe au lait
- The Melting Pot: Happy hour price drinks all day!
- Sono Bakery Company: Ham and cheese croissant, individual quiche, selection of baguette sandwiches. Also available: kouign amann (a round, crusty Breton pastry).
Kids Can Participate in the
‘First Annual Future Darien Artists Show’
Photo from the Artists at Grove Street Plaza website
Future Darien artists, complete with requisite berets
This show is for young artists under the age of 18.
Eligibility: All young artists under 18 encouraged to participate in this new art show. It’s free to enter, and you can enter unframed art on any media on paper, but not larger than 12 inches by 16 inches. Each participant can submit one piece of artwork.
Darien Arts Center volunteers will be receiving of artwork at the Artists at Grove Street Plaza event on Saturday, Sept. 23, but only up until 1 p.m. (the event goes on until 5 p.m.) : September 23 (rain date September 30) 9am-1pm at Grove Street Plaza parking lot at the Darien Arts Center table.
Works can be picked up from 5 to 6 p.m. the same day, or at the Darien Arts Center the week of Sept. 26. Like the Artists at Grove Street Plaza event, the youth show is subject to postponement to Sept. 30 if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
There’s a prize from Darien Arts Center: Each participant will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a free class at the DAC in their respective age group.
The Artists at Grove Street Plaza website says: “Bring us your favorite piece! Everybody can be a Future Darien Artist. Your work will be displayed throughout the day! No judging or selling.”
Part of the poster for this year’s event
Pictures from the event in past years
Contributed
More pictures of the Artists at Grove Street Plaza event in past years (Part 2)