Friday, September 7, 2007
By EVELYN SHIH
STAFF WRITER
The Bergen Museum's sixth annual Music & Art Festival rolls into town Sunday at the Bergen Mall. A celebration of local artists and craftsmen, the festival also features live music, a vintage car show, food and face painting.[painting above by William C. Sturm. Courtesy of thebergenmuseum.com]
"The festival was begun by the museum to celebrate the arts and to give local and regional artists an opportunity to sell their work and to be seen," said museum President Peter Knipe. "Unlike many other music and art festivals, the museum's festival does not consist of exhibitors that sell mass-produced or manufactured items, or non-original art or craft items."
Ten best-in-show awards are given to artists and five more to crafters each year. Winners' works are showcased in a curated exhibition the following year.
Lisa Peters, a sculptor and ceramic jewelry maker, spoke recently about her experience at the festival. She belongs to the group Salute to Women in the Arts and has been a best-in-show winner two out of the three years she's participated.
Q. Is art your profession?
I was a professional photographer for 10 years, and I had my own studio. I closed it in the late '90s and decided to change mediums. ... I started out with fiber arts and moved to ceramics. I now have a very large online business selling ceramic buttons and jewelry. I also exhibit sculpture and mixed-media work in different galleries.
Q. What's the difference between selling pieces online and selling at the festival?
It gives me a chance to interact with people in person. It's not to say I don't have conversation with people on the Internet. But when people get to pick up something in their hands, that's entirely different. They have to see it in real time as opposed to just seeing it on a computer screen.
Q. Did you enjoy yourself at the festival?
I did, because I was surrounded by women in my organization. We all had our own booths, so that was fun. I liked to talk to people in the community, and they said they had never seen art like that. And it was nice that it was in Bergen County.
In general, people say [they] wish they knew more about it, and they have always expressed to me that they wished places like the Bergen Museum would make more outdoor festivals. They get very excited when they see things like that.
Some people are very intimidated to just take it upon themselves to go into a gallery, or think they need to make a day of a gallery trip. To have a festival that incorporates a whole experience with music, and things for the kids to do ... there's something for the whole family.
Q. Is there a lot of art in North Jersey that remains hidden to the general public?
There're a lot of organizations that I don't believe people know about. [Salute to Women in the Arts] has been around since 1974.
All these organizations need places to exhibit their work. It's important [for] businesses or galleries -- or any place with walls -- to be available for art. Artists are always looking for any place with walls.
E-mail: shih@northjersey.com
Copyright © 2007 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
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