West Windsor Arts Council presents a full day of art for the community this Saturday, July 22. An art show in the morning at the West Windsor Farmers Market on Vaughn Drive features West Windsor artists Judy Kaye and Dee Gozonsky. And “A Global String Thing,” featuring music from around the world, will be presented from noon to 6 p.m. at Nassau Park Pavilion near Panera Bread. The free event will be held rain or shine under the canopy.
Kaye and Gozonsky both received awards from the West Windsor Arts Council at the annual juried show held at Mercer County College this past spring.
An elementary school art teacher in Randolph for more than 20 years, Gozonsky and her husband moved to Village Grande, where she now has time to actively paint in watercolor and collage. A docent at the Princeton University Art Museum, she also audits art history classes at Princeton.
Kaye finally found time to pursue her lifelong desire when she moved to Village Grande six years ago. Her dream was aided when she began taking art classes in a variety of mediums, including acrylics, sculpting, drawing, and watercolor. After taking watercolor classes at the West Windsor Senior Center, she found that of all the mediums, she enjoyed watercolor the most.
Dave Haneman of Plainsboro is chairing the multicultural musical event at Nassau Park. A musician, Haneman is an active member of the WWAC, and owner of Haneman Associates, an event and technical production company. “We were thinking of adding several different musical events this season but instead decided to make one full day of music,” says Haneman, who will perform himself along with the Back Porch Swing band. “The musical groups each add a global feel to the music.”
Featured performers at the music festival include Harmonious Wail, a renowned gypsy swing ensemble; Yang Yi and Students with music for guzheng, a traditional Chinese 21-string zither; the Immortals Ceili Band with traditional Celtic music; Mike Esposito with American roots music for dobro and reso guitar; Nilabja Bhattacharya, on sitar, and Shyam Mohan, on tabla, with Indian classical music; Maurice Chedid Middle Eastern Musical Trio with music on oud, kanoun, tablas, and bandeer; and Back Porch Swing with American swing.
West Windsor resident Yang Yi, a virtuoso on the guzheng (21-string zither), has toured extensively throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States; been a guest soloist performing with major national Chinese music groups; and lectured and performed at universities in China and the United States. She is founder and music director of the Eastern Culture and Performing Arts Center and director of the Yang Yi Guzheng Academy.
Back Porch Swing and Friends features an eclectic music experience of Irish jigs, swing standards, gypsy compositions, and cool jazz. The band includes Larry Frazer on mandolin and guitar; Haneman on guitar and bass; Sharyn Alice Murray on vocals; Jeff Nathanson on guitar; and Dennis Normile on percussion and vocals.
Art Show and Music, West Windsor Farmers’ Market, Vaughn Drive, Princeton Junction Train Station, 609-577-5113. westwindsorfarmersmarket.org. Music by Tom Rosenthal, a former member of the Delivery Boys. Saturday, July 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A Global String Thing, West Windsor Arts Council, Nassau Park Pavilion, 609-919-1982. www.westwindsorarts.org. Back Porch Swing at noon; Maurice Chedid at 12:50 p.m.; Mike Esposito on dobro and reso guitars, 1:40 p.m.; Nilabja Bhattacharya on sitar and Shyam Mohan on tabla, at 2:30 p.m. the Immortals Ceili Band at 3:20 p.m.; Yang Yi on guzheng at 4:10 p.m.; and Harmonious Wail at 5 p.m. Rain or shine. Free. Saturday, July 22, noon to 6 p.m.
