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Afterglow coincides with Squashtastic at Wile's Lake Farm Market. We got involved because we thought this was a wonderful venue to showcase "squash art pieces". In 2014 we participated by creating a 16' dragon. During Afterglow we invited the public to decorate the creature with assorted squash, gourds and pumpkins! It was truly a public art piece. Lots of people - small children, teens and adults enjoyed decorating our critter. We are happy to be back with another creature - Squashasaurus is ready for decorating. We will be located at the corner of King Street and the Veterans Memorial Bridge. We love being involved as it is an easy way for us to support an interesting community project and cross promote our event. Our staff enjoy brainstorming for inspiration and then building out the idea. Cody Whynot and Sam Richards will be on site to help people with the power tools and decorating. We are looking forward to having a warm fall evening of fun, just like last year!
Why Have You Chosen to Take Part in Afterglow? SR: I was inspired by two friends who had a collaged postcard collection in last year’s festival. Then what really motivated me was a photo I saw from Afterglow’s first year. It was a picture of a gorgeous gown hanging lit in a storefront window. I thought, “wow”, and then started to imagine an Ikebana arrangement showcased like that. MB: I want to introduce ikebana, the Japanese art of arranging flowers/plant material. It differs from the typical Western style floral arrangement. In ikebana really anything in nature can be used as material. Even more so than the flowers, it’s the shape or the line of the branches in an arrangement that I really admire. What Are You Looking Forward to Most For This Years Festival? SR: This will be my first time to create something for Afterglow and also my first year to attend. I’ve also never worked on a large ikebana arrangement like the one we are creating. Usually it’s a table top display. I can hardly wait to see the final piece sitting in a rather uncharacteristic, yet wonderful space….a men’s clothing store at night. I am looking forward to being a part of and experiencing everything about Afterglow. MB: I’ve participated in other art festivals in the last few years yet I already feel a difference in working with a smaller rural festival like Afterglow. There’s a close connection to the organizers and I feel like I’m a part of this festival’s community. How Do You Feel Afterglow Will Impact Bridgewater? SR: I hope people will see this festival as an opportunity to venture out in the evening and enjoy Bridgewater’s downtown and its riverside loveliness. We may not think of the arts when we think of Bridgewater but perhaps we will. Artistic blood flows all through our community. Afterglow is a good reason to bring people out and our artistic community together to savor this. MB: Maybe we’ll see some galleries displaying local art in downtown Bridgewater one day.
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Afterglow Art FestivalTidbits of information about this years festival! Make sure to check back for interviews by local artists taking part! Archives
September 2018
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