The two towns are celebrating the arts this month. West Windsor Arts Center invites everyone to its fourth birthday party on Saturday, September 13, and Plainsboro Public Library’s annual Festival of the Arts is Saturday, September 20. Both events are free and will be held rain or shine.
“It feels like only yesterday when the West Windsor Arts Council was scrambling to open the doors of the Arts Center,” says Lisa Weil, president of the arts council. “This fall we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Arts Council. Join us in our festivities and discover what thousands of our neighbors have experienced and enjoyed with our enriching classes, programs, and special events.”
West Windsor Arts Council presents samples of fall classes such as life drawing, music, crocheting, and more for all ages. “We hope you will celebrate with us when we showcase a sampling of our terrific offerings,” says Arts Council board member Elaine Gutterman.
Plainsboro’s festival invites attendees to participate in collaborative art projects and create their very own masterpieces. Replicas of classical Greek columns constructed from painted paper during the library’s summer program, “It’s All Greek to Me,” will line the village square. They will surround an area simulating a Greek agora, or marketplace, in which the artists will display their work.
The music begins at 1 p.m. with Brian Colburn in a guitar-keyboard duo of acoustic rock music with Kris Van Cleave. If the sun shines upon the agora, amateur and professional artists of all ages are invited to bring art supplies for an afternoon of plein air drawing or painting in the square.
Contribute to the production of a mosaic formed from individually hand-painted cardboard squares, construct small classical columns from clay or recycled paper, weave fabric on the library’s seven-foot upright earthloom, or create a personal mandala, a circular symbol of unity used in meditation, with Julia Pankratova, a multi-media artist.
There will be a gallery reception for “Windows, Doors and Stairs,” an exhibit by Tatiana Sougakova of Plainsboro that examines the ways in which architectural elements convey a variety of atmospheres. She will raffle off three small originals at 4 p.m.
Leena Shekhar Bagawde, a sculptor in paper and clay, will help participants create tiny clay pumpkins. Grace and Allison Kwok, Plainsboro residents and long-time library artist volunteers, will teach Chinese knotting, while Sissi Lu, Yuchen Chen, Audrey Shen, and Marina Lan will demonstrate Chinese brush painting. Those who want custom bookmarks may obtain them from artists Vien Lee, Charlotte Sun, Rose Tsang, Ping Li, and Jane Lai. Michael Shiue will demonstrate Chinese calligraphy.
Princeton artist Elizabeth Peck will draw pastel portraits from life; and Sheela Raj will put on a demonstration of fabric painting. Festival goers may also enjoy carnival spin painting, sidewalk chalk, and a Lego-building area.
Sue Albert presents “Twirling Arcade,” a show of tossing, juggling, and flying. Inviting festival-goers to join her, she will juggle sticks, scarves, and handmade hula hoops. Louie, the Hoop-Flying Clown, therapy dog, and part of Playful Creations Entertainment, will perform his favorite routines.
Fourth Birthday Celebration, West Windsor Arts Council, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, 609-716-1931. www.westwindsorarts.org. Free. Rain or shine. Saturday, September 13, 1 to 4 p.m.
Festival of the Arts, Plainsboro Public Library, 9 Van Doren Street, 609-275-2897. www.lmxac.org/plainsboro. Saturday, September 20, 1 to 5 p.m.
