Arts & Entertainment
Patchogue Arts Tour Expands
Local arts organization plans its largest event to date, thanks to extra cash from the county.
The Patchogue Arts Council said it plans to use a $3,000 grant from the county to expand this year's Walking Arts Tour.
The event, which spans Patchogue, Blue Point, Bayport, and Sayville, publicly displays the work of many visual artists, and features performances from musicians and spoken word artists, at businesses in those villages.
"We call it 'The Beast' because it keeps growing beyond our belief," said Beth Giacummo, vice president of the Patchogue Arts Council and co-chair of the Walking Arts Tour.
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Giacummo and her co-chairs, Jessica McAvoy and Deborah Peck, approached local art teacher Maria Macedonio-Ritter and asked her to be the guest curator for this year's Walking Arts Tour. Macedonio-Ritter, who owns the Center for Visual Arts in Bayport, will host the event's kickoff party on August 28.
Patchogue's stake in the festival is the Third Annual Patchogue Arts Festival on Oct. 24., when works from artists, musicians and writers will be on display in places like the Patchogue Theatre, Woodland Cemetery and the Garden Club's garden on Terry Street and South Ocean Avenue. Plans for a sculpture garden and an outdoor video screening are also in the works.
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And for the first year, The Arts Festival will include a podcast for visitors to download prior to the event and listen to during the tour. The podcast will include artist bios, information about the artwork on display and performances by local musicians and poets.
"In October when the tour comes down and everybody's sad, they can go back and listen to the podcast." Giacummo said.
"We also have our member's only gallery, which is something special we try to do for them this year," said Giacummo. "It's something that gives our visual arts members a chance to showcase their work."
Members hope that this year's Walking Arts Tour will help Patchogue's growing reputation as a haven for artists.
"It's starting to really take off," said Macedonio-Ritter. "A lot of people didn't know art in Patchogue existed. Now, artists from all the arts come together and work together."
The Patchogue Arts Council is still seeking volunteers and sponsors for the Walking Arts Tour. For more information, please contact WalkingArtsTour@yahoo.com.
