FAMFEST to celebrate local art scene

• The first ever Newark FAMFEST kicks off Friday in downtown Newark.
• The festival offers participants the opportunity to visit six art shows and watch independent films.
• There will also be live music from noon to 10 p.m. on the square.

NEWARK – Shortly after Chris Ramsey arrived in Newark, someone told him there wasn’t really an art scene in the area.

It didn’t take him long realize that person was wrong.

Ramsey said he meets local artists every day, whether he’s working at Sparta Restaurant and Coffee Shop or spending time with students at Newark High School.

He’s hoping local artists of all ages, and community members who support them, will spend the weekend in downtown Newark participating in FAMFEST, a new festival focused on local film, art and music.

The festival kicks off Friday with a screening of a documentary made by Ohio State University-Newark students focused on the Mardis Gras Indians of New Orleans. A performance by Wild Magnolias, a Mardi Gras Indians New Orleans funk band, will follow the screening.

Events continue all day Saturday with art exhibitions, screenings of student films at the Midland and live, local music from noon to 10 p.m. on the Licking County Courthouse Square.

“Hopefully there is something for everyone,” said Janice LoRaso, a member of the festival’s executive committee and assistant director of The Works. “We just want people to be down here. Downtown Newark has so much to be celebrated.”

As executive director of Project Main Street, which focuses on creating partnerships to improve Newark, Ramsey spent last year working with a documentary film making class at Newark High School, who screened their films in May 2014.

The project was so successful, Ramsey decided to expand it in a big way.

“We’d been looking for windows to make a difference, an event that could be a catalyst,” he said. “A community festival is important because it brings everyone together. It can become a symbol, an archetype for the values a community holds.”

He reached out to a number of partners, including The Works, OSU-N, Denison University, WCLT, the Licking County Library and Granville Studio of Visual Arts. Together, they created FAMFEST.

“There are so many arts organizations and musicians and artists in our community. I saw this as a way to promote that and build partnerships,” LoRaso said. “It’s a way to celebrate the art that’s here and lift up the community.”

In the weeks leading up to the festival, The Works and the Licking County Library have been providing multiple options for community members to create their own pieces of art.

On Saturday, they’ll be able to see a variety of different genres and pieces at six free art exhibitions downtown, LoRaso said.

“I wanted to create experiences for people to create art, look at art and learn about art,” she said.

Some artists, especially teenagers, are looking for support and mentors to help them develop their skills. The festival will provide those young artists opportunities to network and meet others who share their interests, Ramsey said.

“There are young aspiring artists in our community who have no idea they can do what they can do,” Ramsey said. “This can open up avenues for creative people to harness their own potential.”

But the festival isn’t just for artists, LoRaso said. Community members are invited to participate in several panels, including The Arts and Community Revitalization with journalist and film maker Lolis Elie and Raising Your Creative Child, which is open to parents, caregivers and educators.

Children ages 6 to 12 might enjoy the opportunity to draw with Carlo LoRaso, a former Disney Consumer Products artist.

Downtown restaurants will be open during the festival, and shirts will be sold at the Sparta. Anyone who can’t attend is welcome to make a donation for next year’s festival, or buy a ticket to the Wild Magnolias concert for a teenager in need, Ramsey said.

“It’s a positive event the whole community can participate in,” he said. “For the first year, I think it’s become something pretty great.”

ajeffries@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8544

Twitter: @amsjeffries

FAM FEST Schedule

For more information, go to newarkfamfest.com. All events are free unless noted.

Film

Screenings

• 7 p.m. Friday: “The Queens of New Orleans” at the Midland Theatre, 36 N Park Place, Newark.

The screening will include a question and answer session with student film makers and Mardi Gras Indian Queen Rita Dollis

•1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday: Independent film screenings at the Midland Theatre, 36 N Park Place, Newark.

Films shown in the 1 to 2:30 p.m. block are suitable for all ages. Films shown during the 3 to 4:30 p.m. block are not suitable for young children.

Educational opportunities

• 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday: Writing for Television with Adrienne Carter at The Works, 55 S. First St.

Space is limited. To RSVP, email anthony.212@osu.edu.

• 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday: The Arts and Community Revitalization with Lolis Elie, The Midland Theatre, 36 N Park Place, Newark.

To RSVP, email anthony.212@osu.edu.

Art

Art shows

• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday: “Culture and Confinement” art show at The Works glass studio, 55 S. 1st St., Newark.

• 9 am. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday: Art display at the main branch of the Licking County Library, 101 W. Main St., Newark.

• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday: “Breaking the Mold” glass art show at The Works main gallery, 55 S. 1st St., Newark.

• 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday: “Colorful Impressions” art show at Licking County Arts, 50 S. 2nd St., Newark.

• 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday: “The Pursuit of Happiness” community art show at Sparta Restaurant and Coffee Shop, 16 W. Main St., Newark.

• 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday: “Windowshop” Denison University senior art show at the Crystal Ballroon, 21 W. Church St., Newark.

There will be a gallery talk Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. The exhibition is also open from noon to 4 p.m. May 4 to May 8.

•11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday: “Sunlight and Shadow” Granville Studio of Visual Arts oil painting show at the Louis Sullivan Building, 6. W. Main St., Newark.

Educational opportunities

• 11 a.m. to noon Saturday: Draw with an Artist at The Works, 55 S. First St., Newark.

This event is for children ages 6 to 12, who will have the opportunity to learn from former Disney Consumer Products artist Carlo LoRaso.

• 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday: Raising Your Creative Child at The Works, 55 S. First St., Newark.

Music

• 8 p.m. Friday: Wild Magnolias New Orleans funk band at The Midland Theatre, 36 N Park Place, Newark.

Tickets are $24 and include admission to the 7 p.m. documentary screening. VIP tickets are $39 and include admission to an opening reception at the Midland at 5:15 p.m.

• Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday: Live music in downtown Newark on Third Street

Headliner Reptile Smile takes the stage from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Other performers include Evan Abood, Kayla Paulette, Jesse Winkler Jerrod Dudgeon, Jane Marczeski, Rese Jhordan, Chase Kenser, Hafrican, Roof Dogs and Flee. For a full schedule of performances, go to newarkfamfest.com.