Outdoor Gallery Features Art in Crawford Park Sunday

Whether they’ve been making art for four years or four decades, artists will find a spot for their canvasses at Crawford Park this Sunday at an exhibit sponsored by the Port Chester Council for the Arts.

A dozen photographers, painters and even schoolchildren will display their artistic efforts this weekend for ART 10573, a festival put together by the non-profit organization to highlight a thriving arts community.

On the bill: 3-D mixed media artist Ricardo Marlis, Port Chester High School art teacher April Dessereau, nationally-renowned animator Vincent Bell and Assistant Superintendent of Schools Frank Fanelli, who is a self-taught painter.

Fifth-graders from all four village elementary schools and Port Chester High School seniors Jennifer Cacciola, Dianne Eboll and Lukasz Jakimiec will also exhibit work they’ve done in the classroom.

Artists with more unique skill sets hope their brand of outside-the-box thinking will resonate with the younger set.

Vincent Bell, for example, is an animator and illustrator whose work can be seen everywhere from greeting cards to the Campbell’s Soup Kids and Michelin Man commercials.

He hopes a mixed bag will show folks that they can be anything they want in the creative world.

“I’m looking forward to variety of artwork," he said. "Hopefully it will stimulate more minds in wanting to do something creative.”

Youngsters taking computer classes to learn digital art may also feel inspired by Bell’s work, since many of the prints he will bring with him this weekend were created using a blank pieces of paper and pencil rather than high-tech programming.

“My work [will be] different than the other artists and painters: the more variety I hope to see there, it will be more for the youth of Port Chester to digest,” he added.

Students of the Rye Arts Center: you may even recognize some familiar faces from the classroom.

Watercolor painting instructor at the facility, Brigitte Loritz, will show pieces depicting landscapes and floral arrangements for others to admire.

“Watercolor is my passion—I also learn a lot from my students,” said the Swiss-educated artist and Parsons School of Design graduate.

Officials also understand that artistic expression can be heard as well as seen.

That's why guests will be able to jam to classic tunes by the Rye Town Community Band and a musical revue by the Posillipo Center Senior Theatre Workshop throughout the day.

Artists Vincent Leggiardo, Angel Pena, Grace Mora and Carole Nelson, Bob Weinberg and Paul Mutino will also be showing work this Sunday.

 “We figured starting out with local artists is wonderful and can always expand," Loritz said. "If it takes off, we can invite artists from all over the country."

The event will take place this Sunday, June 5 at Crawford Park from 12 to 5 p.m.

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