Even after 32 years, the preparation for the Bay Ridge Festival
of the Arts is still as arduous as ever. But the effort is more
than worthwhile, according to festival organizers.
A week before the April 22 opening of the 33rd annual festival,
organizers were busy sorting through the hundreds of paintings
stacked on the basement floor of the Lutheran Church of the Good
Shepherd, 7420 Fourth Ave., where all of the festival events
will be held.
The paintings were selected from among the hundreds of submissions
that artists brought to the church earlier on the festival’s
receiving day of April 16.
Artists were permitted to bring in three framed paintings
and a portfolio of 10 unframed paintings to be considered by
the festival’s jury, according to Rochelle Broadman Wade, who
sits on the organizing committee. The jury then decides which
paintings it wants to display in the festival’s gallery space.
"The art has to be created by the artist and professionally
acceptable," said Wade. "The content can be anything."
After the selection process is completed, the organizers have
to decide how to hang the art on the walls of the church’s community
room and neighboring hallway, which will serve as the art gallery
for the duration of the weeklong festival.
"We spend a whole week getting the paintings hung properly,"
said Wade. "The paintings have to be tastefully hung in
order to sell."
Although the festival serves as a showcase for artists from
throughout the tri-state area, the organizing committee takes
a 25 percent cut from the sale of all artwork and puts it toward
a scholarship fund, which it eventually awards to local high
school students who excel in the arts.
"We are trying to promote the arts in Bay Ridge,"
said Wade.
Indeed, this year the festival will include daily instructional
activities and musical performances in addition to the weeklong
showcase of art.
The festival will open at 2 pm on April 22 with a reception
for the artists and patrons of the event. The reception will
be followed by the public opening at 4 pm, where members of the
organizing committee will address the festival.
On Tuesday, April 24 at 2:30 pm, there will be an art demonstration
titled, "Simple Crafts Anyone Can Do." Later that day
the O’Malley Irish Dance Academy will perform.
On Thursday, April 26, there will be a jewelry and craft demonstration
at 2:30 pm. Also on the 26th, classical pianist Michael Boshell
will perform at 8 pm.
Children’s Day at the festival will begin at 2:30 pm on April
27, and will include face painting and storytelling. The week
of concerts will conclude with "An Evening of Song,"
which includes performances by Bay Ridge mezzo soprano Phyllis
Falletta with Kevin Carlson, Richard Paratley and Maxim Pakhomov
at 8 pm, also on the 27th.
The final two days of the festival have been reserved for
a craft fair, which will be open from 1 pm to 7 pm on April 28,
and from 1 pm to 5 pm on April 29.
During the week, the gallery will be open concurrently with
the scheduled events from 2 pm to 5 pm and then from 7 pm to
9 pm. All of the special events and entrance to the festival
are free of charge.
The 33rd annual Bay Ridge Festival of
the Arts exhibition and sale runs April 22-29 at Lutheran Church
of the Good Shepherd (7420 Fourth Ave.). The gallery hours are
4-7 pm on April 22; 2-5 pm and 79:30 pm on April 23-27;
1-7 pm on April 28; and 1-6 pm on April 29. For more information
visit www.brfa.org on the
Web. Free admission.
