Artists from around the city are getting ready for the 4th annual Hell’s Kitchen Arts Festival which is set to take place from Friday May 18th to Sunday the 20th. So far over 100 venues, which include clubs, private businesses, art studios, restaurants and private apartments have volunteered their space to feature the works of painters, sculptors, musicians and performers. Actors, musicians and performance artists will also be found at many of the celebrations connected to HK: Artists Tour. Visitors to this free event will be given maps directing them to these sites featuring the works of various artists, some celebrated, and other emerging talents. West Side Neighborhood Alliance will once again be donating its space at 500 West 52nd Street.
This event is coordinated by the Hell’s Kitchen Artists Association, headed by artist and local resident Michael Marcus Felber. Felber, and his hard working volunteer staff, operate around the clock working to create to gain notice for the art being shown, some of which will be up for sale. In 2011, despite sharing the same weekend with the celebrations connected to the passage of the marriage equality rights law, thousands of residents of New York City and tourists found their way to the art show which has been described as a grass-roots social movement to build up arts around the city and allow artists to make a name for themselves.
The Art In Hell’s Kitchen event will also include five parties around the area where patrons will be treated to free music, art showings, drama performances and dances along with cocktails, food and the chance to meet many of the artists themselves. The energy of these gatherings has been described as raw and vibrant. The first of these celebrations will be the kick-off party at Roy Arias Studios & Theaters. The other venues taking part in the gathering and celebration of this event are The Clinton House, Bar Nine, Tobacco Road and Swing 46.
Mike Felber’s group is also hard at work producing a new copy of the free arts magazine “At The Edge” which will feature not only the artists showing around Hell’s Kitchen, but others unable to attend or show work in the Tour. The magazine will contain art reproductions, profiles of contributing artists, poetry, articles and some short stories. There will also be reflections on the state of art in Hell’s Kitchen which would seem necessary since the ever increasing problem of rent hikes are making it more difficult for artists to survive in New York. The magazine will also be used as a vehicle for bringing in corporate funding to help finance the event as well as publication of the magazine.
For more information on this festival and its parties – http://www.artistsinthekitchen.org/
Posted by Matthew Abuelo
on May 12, 2012. Filed under Art,ENTERTAIMENT,NEWS,Times Square Community.
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