Council pushes arts at event

The art group sees the bicentennial as a turning point in the city.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- A new arts group having its premier events during the Salem Bicentennial is looking to the future.
The Larwen Council for the Arts was formed three years ago to promote more art events in the city. "Larwen" comes from the initials of the people who created the council.
The events range from painting to jazz music, an art show with an international flavor, black poetry and dance, a dramatic presentation on abolitionist John Brown's last days and lots of events for kids.
The council is sponsoring the Zadok Street Art Festival in Centennial Park Saturday and next Sunday.
John Straughan and Zadok Street were Salem's founders in 1806, but Street was picked for the festival's title because, "it's such a neat name," according to Julie Wack, the president of the group.
The council has held several events in the past but sees its bicentennial efforts as its first major effort, Wack said. But instead of reinventing the wheel, the council wants to augment and work with the city's art programs.
That's the reason for the more international flavor of the juried art show. So far, 20 artists have been selected to display their work at Centennial Park.
Wack said there is great competition among art shows for artists, so it's never clear which ones will actually appear.
"Hopefully, it will be a lot of fun," she added.
Music during the show will include folk, jazz, bluegrass and zydeco (Creole).
Black history
Salem's part in the Underground Railroad will be reflected by giving voice to a black man via the poetry of Mwatabu S. Okantah, an author, assistant professor and poet in residence in the Department of Pan-African Studies at Kent State University, Wack said.
John Brown and his wife, Mary, will be portrayed in theatrical performance "Magpie: Sword of the Spirit at the Wilbur Friends Meeting House." Greg Artzner and Terry Leonino will portray the couple.
"The history of Quakers in Salem is part of the Salem identity. It's who the people were who founded it," Wack said.
Members of the meeting will speak on how their beliefs differ from Brown's, Wack said.
The dramatization is set in 1859 in the county jail in what is now Charleston, W.V. Before his execution, Brown explains his fight against slavery. From another part of the stage, Mary writes to him.
Wack said that Okantah's appearance may result in more efforts with KSU, including its branch south of Salem.
Celebration
"The bicentennial is a kind of a turning point," Wack said.
The city, while celebrating its bicentennial, is also moving into a new century at the same time, she said.
"Salem is really a quality place. There are a lot of good people who care about this place," Wack said.
Salem is half-way through a comprehensive study that will guide the city for years.
"As we move forward, Larwen wants to do arts and culture. Arts are not the whole answer, but are part of it," Wack said.
For more information, visit: www.larwen.com.
wilkinson@vindy.com