Activities abound at Summerfest

By Ed Runyan

Around noon, the Youngstown Bomb Squad removed a suspicious suitcase from in front of the gallery.

WARREN — Ginny Hull of Howland brought her granddaughter, Lauren Ulrich, 5, of Toledo, to Lauren’s first Trumbull Art Gallery Summerfest class last June.

Since then, the Summerfest is “all she talked about all year,” Hull said Tuesday morning after Lauren finished decorating a Rock ’n’ Roll guitar in a class for children age 4 to 7.

It was the fourth class Lauren took at the downtown Warren gallery over the last two weeks. Summerfest concludes today with a parade at noon in Courthouse Square featuring all of the art the children have made during Summerfest.

Lauren will be there with her shiny guitar, colorful hat and sparkling shoes — each one a product of a class she took at the West Market Street art gallery.

All of the 300 to 400 children who made art over the two-week Summerfest are expected to bring their artwork and wear it or carry it during the parade.

During the second hour, child-centered activities such as a clown, stilt-walker and carnival games will be provided on the Courthouse lawn. All activities are free, and all children are encouraged to participate, said Jacki Mountan, Summerfest director.

All of the artwork for this year’s Summerfest was inspired by the work of artist Andy Warhol of Pittsburgh, who loved celebrities, self-portraits, shoes, crazy hair, bright colors and strong, simple shapes.

“It’s a great summer program for the kids,” said Lia Byrne of Girard, who brought her two children Francesca, 9, and Dante, 5, and a niece and nephew from Fayettville, N.C.

On Saturday, the girls took a self-portrait class that involved projecting a picture of themselves onto a wall so that they could trace their features, then painting it and decorating the background.

“They’re learning about a particular artist, and you don’t get this in the schools,” Lia Byrne said. “There’s so many things they can use to be creative,” she said, pointing to the table full of materials.

Activities were interrupted and traffic rerouted for a time around noon, when gallery officials called Warren police over a suspicious suitcase left unattended on the sidewalk in front of the gallery.

Police called the Youngstown Bomb Squad, which spent about an hour checking the suitcase and removing it to a safe place behind the gallery to open it. Nothing hazardous or explosive was found inside.

This year’s Summerfest, the 6th overall, has been a success, Mountan said, with the number of children participating at the gallery and at classes offered at several children’s centers in the Warren area rising this year over last.

The gallery, which was formerly housed in the Gilmer House on Mahoning Avenue before moving seven years ago, is part of a volunteer organization that supports area arts and artists, Mountan said.

The gallery, at the corner of West Market and Pine, is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, year-round, and features about eight gallery shows per year featuring area artists or the work of Mahoning Valley natives.

A gift shop sells items such as drawings, sculptures, toys, cards and jewelry.

runyan@vindy.com