Artpark lives up to billing, with poetry, family programming, children's events, new music & iconic performances

Artpark & Company’s goal, as defined, is “Where art + nature + culture fuse into unforgettable experiences.” The venue “fosters a transformative world of artistic engagement that explores the human experience, cultivates creativity, and encourages curiosity. Our work is informed by a long tradition of discovery, an expectation of artistic excellence, and an awareness of the inspiration of singular natural splendor.”

That ethos was on full display over the weekend.

Consider:

•Artpark & Company welcomed Jeremy Dutcher on Friday. It noted, “Jeremy Dutcher is a classically trained operatic tenor and composer who takes every opportunity to blend his Wolastoq First Nation roots into the music he creates, blending distinct musical aesthetics that shape-shift between classical, traditional, and pop to form something entirely new.”

 

•Saturday began with a sensing resonance plein air poetry workshop led by Artpark Bridges Director Cynthia Pegado and Artpark Literary Residency Poet Robert Giannetti on the Emerald Grove stage. The session celebrated nature and the spoken word.

 

In the afternoon, “Free Family Saturdays” offered children (and families) an opportunity to paint, drum, dress up, make a clay pot and explore nature.

 

Later that night, Tori Amos performed to nearly 2,000 devoted fans inside the Mainstage Theater. As has been her recent routine, the artist carefully curated a specific setlist for her audience. For an hour and 45 minutes, concertgoers were enthralled, hanging on Amos’ every lyric, cheering, chanting, screaming and crying (one went so far as to call the show "a religious experience").

 

•On Sunday, the “New Music in the Park Series” welcomed Third Coast Percussion to the Emerald Grove stage. The Grammy Award-nominated quartet uses an array of musical instruments to “create exciting and unexpected performances that constantly redefine the classical music experience.”

Prior to the concert, four of Artpark’s 2023 writers in residence shared a selection of original poems.

This week, Artpark & Company will host a children’s camp; concerts with the Barenaked Ladies, Five For Fighting, Del Amitri, and Lauren Daigle; and the annual Fairy House Festival on Saturday. For more information, a full calendar, or to purchase tickets, visit www.artpark.net.