Festival features diverse group of Rust-Belt artists, food, beer

The Vindicator

YOUNGSTOWN — Local art, music, food and brew will come together at the Artists of the Rust Belt Festival this weekend at B&O Station.

The event, sponsored by Rust Belt Brewing Co., will include dozens of artists working in a wide variety of media, who will exhibit and sell their work. Bands and musicians will also perform.

“We created this festival to celebrate the diverse talent this region has to offer,” said Daniel Horne, a sculptor and organizer of the festival.

Artists of the Rust Belt is a social network of artists who encourage collaboration in the arts. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to Youngstown State University’s SMARTS program. Students Motivated by the Arts provides music and art education to area school children.

Patrick Buckohr of Canton will work on a large painting of a steel mill scene throughout the weekend. The painting will be auctioned off during the festival with a portion of the proceeds also going to the SMARTS program. Buckohr is known for his giant steel sculptures of animals that adorn street corners throughout Canton.

Chris Castle, a singer-songwriter from Peru Hollow, Ohio, will perform his original Midwest Americana roots music on Saturday.

“We have been very lucky to attract quite a diverse and talented array of visual and musical artists for the festival,” said Horne.

Jewelers and other artisans will also be on hand. Susan Dexter of New Castle, Pa., will show her fiber art while demonstrating hand spinning and weaving. Other items include: hand-crafted mirrors; photography, paintings, hand-dyed baby clothes, ceramics, handmade soaps, scrap-metal sculptures and forged iron works.

Works donated by the artists will be raffled off.

The Rust Belt Brewing Co., which is inside the B&O building, will serve its Rusty River Irish Red, Blast Furnace Blonde Ale and Coke Oven Stout. Food prepared by local chefs and vendors will also be available.

ARTISTS

Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday:

Marcie Applegate, jewelry Lisa Zitello, painting, hand-dyed clothing Shelly Krock, jewelry Sharon Meenachan, ceramics Patti Green, jewelry Susan Green, jewelry Gail Shaner, jewelry Jim Shaner, sculpture Maryanne Caleris, pottery, jewelry Rick Fisher, photography Larry Griffiths, sculpture Tony Nicholas, photography, mixed media Pat Crowe, wood framed mirrors Valerie Spitaler, jewelry Charles Hughes, forged metal work and sculpture Jason Van Hoose, painting Heidi Goldberg, natural handmade soap Troy Goldberg, painting Susan Dexter, fiber art, weaving/spinning Michele Cassile, mixed media Teresa Kurz-Hedrich, painting Carol Rastaedt, jewelry Kate Finney, painting Darrel Clegg, jewelry Susan Crisan, fiber art Willie Duck, painting Jacob Hostetter, painting Scott Pergande, ceramics Nancy Sontich-Lenhart, pottery Jim Daley, silk screen, photography Patrick Buckohr, sculpture, painting Daniel Home, scrap-heap sculpture

BANDS AND MUSICIANS

Saturday (outdoor stage)

Noon-12:45: Unmerited Favor 1-2:30 p.m.: Average Joe 2:45-4:15 p.m.: Chris Castle with Tony ShafferSFlb4:30-5:15 p.m.: Nothing Pure 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Brady’s Leap 6:45-7:30 p.m.: Nick Funyak & the ResonanceSFlb7:45-8:45 p.m.: The Marble Champs 9-10:15 p.m.: Collideascope 10:30-11:15 p.m.: The McKelvy Raygun 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.: Black Sheep Caravan 12:45-1:45 a.m.: Hiatus The 15-minute breaks will be covered by Ralphie Rich & Chazz Sutton.

Sunday acoustic shows (indoors)

Noon-1 p.m.: Teddy Pentelas 1-2 p.m.: Tim Drummond 3-4 p.m.: Katie Ferrall 4-5 p.m.: Madam Weez 5-6:30 p.m.: The McKelvy Raygun 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Ralphie Rich 7:30-9 p.m.: Mr. Kyle