For one weekend every summer, downtown Plymouth turns into a huge outdoor art gallery where creativity, food and entertainment spill into nearly every block.
The 46th annual Art in the Park returns July 10-12, with over 400 juried artists from across the U.S. offering a wide selection of original artwork.
“Art in the Park is my favorite event of the entire year because it brings everybody together, from the little ones to the moms, the dads and the grandparents,” said Plymouth Mayor Linda Filipczak. “It’s great shopping, great food and a great time to hang with your peeps and just have a great day.”
Organizers expect about 300,000 people to attend the three-day festival, making it Michigan’s second-largest art fair behind Ann Arbor – and one of the largest in the country.
Art in the Park Event Director Raychel Rork said the festival includes both old favorites and new features.
“We have a good balance so it’s never going to get stale,” Rork said. “It’s not going to be the same show you saw last year. There will always be new, fun, exciting things to see, do, eat and participate in.”
This year’s highlights include a professional speed painter whose paint-splattering style turns into artwork as the audience looks on.
“It looks kind of like Jackson Pollock craziness, but as you stand around and observe him longer, you see that it actually comes into form,” Rork said. “It’s super fun and entertaining to watch as he’s flinging paint around, and people will get to experience that whole process.”
Visitors can also watch professional street artists create a massive vintage circus-themed chalk mural at the intersection of Main Street and Penniman Avenue throughout the weekend.
Of course, shopping is the main event, with hundreds of artists offering paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber, glass, woodwork, photography, folk art and more in a range of styles and budgets.
Among this year’s newcomers, Rork noted, are artists who transform vintage cookie tins into colorful jewelry and another who repurposes antique clocks and watches into wearable art.
“We really pride ourselves on having something for everyone,” Rork said. “Whether it’s $10 or $1,000 or beyond that, we want you to find what you’re looking for.”
Kellogg Park will once again feature dozens of youth artists selling everything from paintings and drawings to woodworking, metalwork and digital art.
Beyond the art, visitors will find numerous food vendors representing a variety of cultures, along with live music, street performers, magicians, dancers and interactive demonstrations throughout downtown.
Founded in 1980 by Rork’s mother, Dianne Quinn, Art in the Park has grown from a small gathering of about 30 artists into a nationally recognized event.
Although Quinn retired from day-to-day operations years ago, she continues to help jury artists and advise on major decisions, while multiple generations of the family remain involved in organizing the festival.
“It’s quite the legacy,” Rork said.
A shuttle will run from Schoolcraft College, offering free parking and transportation to downtown for $9 round trip. Children 12 and younger ride free.
More details are available at the Art in the Park webiste.
Contact reporter Laura Colvin: lcolvin@hometownlife.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Art in the Park returns to Plymouth. Here’s a look at the big event.
Reporting by Laura Colvin, Hometownlife.com / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Laura Colvin, Hometownlife.com | USA TODAY Network
