Zadok Street Art Festival moving from park to downtown Salem

The festival will include a juried art show to ensure quality work is presented.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

SALEM — The Zadok Street Art Festival is moving downtown.

The Larwen Council for the Arts, which had its inaugural event during the city’s 2006 bicentennial, will again provide events for adults and children.

Events for adults and children last year were held in Centennial Park. Most events this year will be downtown along East State Street and South Broadway Avenue.

The council’s goal is to bring artists together and into the community. The festival takes its name from one of Salem’s founders.

Julie Wack, festival chairwoman, said, “I always intended to have it downtown.”

Having the festival downtown helps to highlight local businesses and emphasize quality of life issues, such as the arts.

The art show

Some 22 artists have applied to be admitted to the juried show that will be along South Broadway. “Juried” means the artists submitted information about their work to the festival. The screening process helps to make sure that quality works are displayed.

Works range from ceramics to jewelry to painting and sculpture.

Artists who have been accepted live in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and western Ohio.

But with artistic temperaments being what they are, “you never know who is going to show up,” Wack said.

The Salem branch of the Butler Institute of American Art will stay open late Friday, have regular hours Saturday, and be open Sunday, when it is normally closed.

Music will range from folk to gospel to Broadway show tunes.

Everything is free.

Wack expects the festival will build up over the years and will attract people to move to the city.

Wack has a master’s degree in fine art and is a painter and sculptor. Her work is often on display at the Friends Roastery.

wilkinson@vindy.com

XFor more information on the festival, visit www.larwen.com.