Shoppers, art lovers, singers, dancers and videographers joined in a celebration of the arts and community fundraising event on March 15 at Pennington Quality Market for the Hopewell Valley Arts Council’s “Stampede” initiative.
The Stampede is the group’s name for the public art exhibit represented by 50 oxen to be decorated by artists and sponsored and displayed by local organizations and individuals as a way of encouraging art in everyday places.
Hopewell Valley Arts Council plans to have the decorated oxen ready by late summer. Two of the undecorated animals were attention-getters at the Pennington Market event.
Hopewell Valley Central High School Television Production teacher, Frank Flegeal and some of his student videographers raced through aisles or were pushed in shopping carts to capture the spontaneous performances.
Michael Rothwell, vice president, general manager and member of the family that owns PQM brought out the culinary arts of his staff and vendors in sampling stations throughout the store.
Steve and Tonya Murray of Pennington, along with daughter Lauren, were there to support son Chris, 16, a Hopewell Valley Central High School student singing at a “flash mob” a capella performance.
Five percent of every purchase made during the six-hour event went to the Arts Council, a newly formed group of local residents who want to increase appreciation of visual, culinary, performing and horticultural arts in the Valley.
