Artpark's free family programming a hit

Though rains threatened to spoil the party, Artpark & Company's "Free Family Saturdays" kicked off in fine fashion over the weekend. In fact, children and parents dodged some drops and came out early to make slime, a colorful mask or play with an assortment of toys atop a sandy hill.

When conditions became more favorable, attendees enjoyed a series of short, comedic vignettes, courtesy of the Niagara University Repertory Theatre.

More activities are scheduled for July and August. The schedule follows.

‘Free Family Saturdays’

“Free Family Saturdays” are held on Saturdays (noon-4 p.m.) in July in the Artpark Amphitheater. Guests can enjoy free craft-making workshops, the costume closet, face-painting, pottery-wheel and live performances by N.U.R.T. (Niagara University’s Repertory Theatre).

This summer’s themes include:

• July 13 – Art of Fantasy
• July 20 – Art in Water
• July 27 – Art of the Game

Artpark’s “Free Family Saturdays” are supported in part by Hyatt’s All Things Creative.

‘Music in the Woods’

Those with eclectic tastes in music will want to check out the “Music in the Woods” Sunday series presented on the outdoor Emerald Grove stage in the lower park. This scenic series, overlooking the Niagara Gorge, offers a varied mix of jazz, classical, gamelan and Spanish guitar. All performances begin at 4 p.m. and are free to the public.

Performers this summer include:

• July 14 – Wayang Kulit Shadow Puppet Performance by Buffalo Gamelan Club
• July 28 – Buffalo Baroque Collective
• Aug. 4 – Moshe Shulman Trio
• Aug. 11 – Johannes Lindstead “Guitar of Fire”
• Aug. 18 – Klang Par2 saxophone duo

Select performances are sponsored, in part, by Elderwood at Wheatfield Community. 

‘Sound Dance’

New this year, “Sound Dance” uniquely combines creative dance expression and sound-making into a free workshop offered on select dates in the Artpark Percussion Garden (10-11 a.m.). Led by teaching artist and movement expert Cynthia Cadwell Pegado, “Sound Dance” is built on a foundation of accessible movement strategies.

Classes are suitable for all ages and movement abilities, including people with Parkinson’s disease and mobility challenges; people using wheelchairs; ambulatory people; those with intellectual or developmental disability; and anyone who would like to explore interpretive dance and rhythm.

Summer workshops are slated for July 13 and 27. They are free and open to the public.

“Sound Dance” is a new program presented as part of the “Artpark Bridges” community engagement program, with partial seed funding from Arts Services Initiative of Western New York.

On Screen

The Lewiston venue annually presents two outdoor family films on concert video screens in the amphitheater. “Artpark’s Family Movie Nights” begin at 7:30 p.m. Both admission and parking are free.

This year’s features include:

• Aug. 12 – “The Tale of The Princess Kaguya”
• Aug. 26 – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

The Kiwanis Club of Lewiston and Favorites Pizzeria sponsor “Family Movie Nights”.

Artpark Art Gallery

Pegado will offer an artist talk and reception from 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 26. Kyla Kegler will do likewise on Friday, Aug. 23.

Admission to the Artpark Gallery is free. Visit artpark.net for more information and a schedule of open gallery hours for an opportunity to see the artists at work.

For more information and a full Artpark calendar of events, visit artpark.net.

A large audience was on hand Saturday to watch N.U.R.T. perform at Artpark.