By Kaveh Mojtabai Lebanon, CT - Music. Dancing. Art. Poetry. Gardening. Healing circles. Fire pits. Sound sanctuary. Sweat Lodges. Tea houses. Kids spaces. Yoga. Solar panels. Camping. Nature. Community. Humanity. This all happens at The Unifier Festival. What’s more, it’s all happening in New England. Unifier, an annual “Transformational Healing and Expressive Arts Festival,” made its debut on June 5 to span across four full days through a spacious 380-acre campground at Camp Laurel in Lebanon, Connecticut. This transformative festival is not the only one of its kind. This passionate movement is sweeping across the country: Burning Man in Colorado, Gratifly in North Carolina, Beloved in Oregon to name only a few. Transformative festivals like Unifier, however, are different from purely profit-venturing entertaining music concerts. Everyone participating, whether it be … [Read more...] about Unifier: Connecticut’s Own “Burning Man”
Local Art
“Locally Made” at the RISD MUSEUM Showcases Rhode Island Artwork
By Newlin Tillotson Providence, RI – With three galleries, and a participation of 300 artists, “Locally Made” is the Rhode Island School of Design Museum’s largest survey of work from the greater Providence area in more than 20 years. Continuing through November 3, “Locally Made” features demonstrations, collaborations and an exhibition of newly acquired work by 40 Rhode Island artists. In the Upper Farago Gallery, the newer acquisitions from local artists are displayed in a large white setting. It is an eclectic group of work ranging in size, style and mediums. Much of the art on display is descriptive of the state, with some pieces reflecting the close-knit and esoteric nature of Rhode Island culture. Allison Bianco’s piece, “The Sinking of Matunuck,” a soft-ground etching and color screen-print triptych on paper, is an eye-catching piece that includes some Rhode Island … [Read more...] about “Locally Made” at the RISD MUSEUM Showcases Rhode Island Artwork
Review: 51st Annual Wickford Art Festival
By Newlin Tillotson North Kingstown, RI – Wickford Harbor in North Kingstown, R.I. welcomed more than 200 artists July 13 and 14 for the 51st Annual Wickford Art Festival. Booths lined the streets of the historic village exhibiting work by artists across New England and some neighboring states including New York and Pennsylvania. The festival gave art lovers the opportunity to interact with different artists who specialized in a range of mediums including pottery, sculpture, watercolors and oil paints. While a lot of the art had marine influence, there was also a selection of abstract and urban-inspired artwork. Abstract artist Susan Petree from Newport, R.I., exhibited her multi-layered acrylic paintings. The colors were vivid, mixing reds with turquoise or orange and cerulean blue with some paintings featuring seven to ten layers. Petree, who had worked as a banker for more … [Read more...] about Review: 51st Annual Wickford Art Festival