8th annual Oliver Street Art Festival set for Saturday

Project 308 Gallery to host art festival

The eighth annual Oliver Street Art Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, between Schenck and Robinson streets in North Tonawanda. The festival will feature more than 60 regional artists working in various media, including painting, photography, crafts and jewelry making.

Organizers said, “The Oliver Street Art Festival highlights the talents of local artists and musicians, and enriches the neighborhood with the arts.”

Tracy McGehee has been a participating artist vendor in the festival since the first year.

“I paint mostly on canvas and wood, drawing my inspiration from nature and my imagination, creating colorful artworks from my studio space located in Western New York,” she said. “I always enjoy being in this festival and I look forward to this year’s event!”

Natalie Brown, owner of Plak Art Plus and the Project 308 Gallery, will transform a block of Oliver Street into a celebratory arts festival.

"I am so excited to host this festival for the eighth year on Oliver Street, and I hope the community continues to support the event,” she said.

Photos from past Oliver Street Art Festival events by Zachary Todtenhagen // provided by Natalie Brown

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The Project 308 Gallery will serve as the headquarters for the festival. Located at 308 Oliver, the gallery will feature an art exhibition by Julie Kirsch titled “Minds, Brains, Selves” featuring 50-plus paintings and drawings.

A press release stated, “The series, ‘Minds, Brains, Selves,’ explores the relationship between our conscious selves and material bodies. The artwork reflects her research in self-knowledge, the ethics of belief, memory, artificial intelligence, and bioethics.” 

This exhibition will be on view at the Project 308 Gallery during the festival Saturday afternoon through Aug. 30. There will also be a closing reception from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25. The gallery is open from 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays. Admission is free.

In addition to artwork, the festival will feature live music throughout the day. Food will be provided by the Tonawanda's Lions Club, The Vegan Grocery Store and Brando’s Pizza. Coffee will be available from Little Black Heart Roastery. Attendees can also enjoy a free beer sampling from Flying Bison Brewery inside the gallery.

Brown said the festival and gallery uphold a mission to engage those who appreciate the arts, collaborate with local artists and students, and activate a renewed enthusiasm for art in the community.

This festival is family-friendly, free and open to the public. All are welcome.

For more: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Project308Gallery // Instagram: @project308gallery