ESCANABA — Escanaba is celebrating Art Week this week, July 28 - Aug. 3, with a variety of activities throughout the week and ending with the Waterfront Art Festival on Saturday.
Kate Oman, gallery director at the Bonifa Arts Center, says the goal is to highlight art in the community.
“It’s all about the art, the artists that make the art and the wonderful community that we have,” Oman said. “Even if you don’t make art, stopping by the Pop-UP Market, supporting one of the classes that we have or going to the Waterfront Art Festival helps the community.”
The week is sponsored by the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority with a grant supported by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.
“The are a lot of different ways to participate in Art Week. It is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of art in our community,” said Craig Woerpel, executive director of the Escanaba DDA.
During the activities at the Escanaba Marketplace throughout the week, the community is invited to participate in a community art project. Oman says they will be constructing the new Downtown Escanaba logo with smaller art pieces created by the community.
“They will have a little square they can put what they want on it and we are going to use it to create a larger piece on the wall at the Marketplace. We will see what it turns into,” Oman said.
The week starts with plein air painting in the downtown on Monday. The free youth art projects continue on Tuesday at the Escanaba Marketplace from 1 to 3 p.m. At 4 p.m. is a special paint class for kids age 6 to 14 with Lauren Hovland.
“She will be doing a fun piece with cats. It’s called ‘Purrr-fect Cats.’ It’s a paint party for kids. You will get to learn how to make these really cool cats,” said Oman.
You can register for the class at bonifarts.org under classes.
Wednesday is the Lunch on Ludington Music Series at 11:30 a.m. with the House Blues Band and Escanaba City Band at 7:30 p.m. at the Karas Bandshell in Ludington Park. The House of Ludington has music at 8 p.m.
“Music is certainly is an extension of the arts in our community and an important of who we are,” Woerpel said. “There are going to be many opportunities to listen to music throughout the week and summer.”
Thursday includes a Greek Folk Dancing class at 1 p.m. and a Paint N Sip with Staci Berg at 3 at the Marketplace. Jan Dillon is teaching how to make Mosaic Rocks at the Bonifas.
Registration for those classes can also be made at bonifasarts.org.
Friday is the Pop-UP Market at the Escanaba Marketplace and piano night at Leigh’s Garden Winery at 6 p.m. Saturday is the Waterfront Art Festival.
“We have photography, we have metal art, we have pottery, we may have some glassworkers, we have jewelry, we have everything — like my booth has everything — and we have live entertainment and food vendors.
The Waterfront Art Festival includes a Youth Market Tent where younger artists will sell their creations.
The day starts with a 5K Color Run, again you can register at bonifasrts.org. It ends with Rock the Dock at the Municipal Dock at 4 p.m. Performing are Croven, Pickstop and Sit Down Francis.
