This blog post is going to be short and simple…probably. The thing is, I don’t know what all to say about the Paso Artsfest 2015. I can use words like impressive, incredible, and special. Doing so just seems obvious and redundant. Instead, I’d rather make two bigger points.
The first point is that I feel extremely fortunate to live in Paso Robles during this time. I moved here in November of 2003 and during my time I have seen this town become something amazing. Most people still refer to Paso Robles as a wine region, which it is, but we also have an amazing (up and coming) craft brew scene, phenomenal food, a fantastic local music crowd, and…we have artists.
Not just artists…amazing, incredible, emotional, talented, expressive, unique artists. We have artists that express themselves through sculpting, paint, photography, wood carving, and co many other mediums. Not every piece resonates with me, but every piece resonates with someone. And it’s all right here in our little community.
My second point is how thankful and impressed I am with Studios on the Park (owner Anne Laddon and her family) along with the many artists and volunteers that give their time to put on such a remarkable event like Paso Artsfest. Without events like this how would we spread the art in this community? Without this event how would we be able to inspire the artist hiding in each of us? Without events like this how would we show children the importance of…art?
I was extremely impressed with the event this year. There were characters on stilts, live music, sand sculpting, jewelry makers, painters, sculptures, face painting, cardboard artists, and literally dozens of more mediums represented. It blew my mind to see how much this event has grown.
Thank you to all involved…it is very important.
My last comment will be this…look at art, enjoy it, buy it, and most importantly…create YOUR own art and give it to the world.
My take was a bit different. I missed a few things this year I’ve enjoyed in previous years, like the Musical Petting Zoo, the long group mural, and the Plein Air Quick Draw live auction. I know some changes are inevitable, but everything seems very different this year. Maybe some of these changes were already taking place in the last two years when I was unable to attend and I couldn’t get used to them as they happened, but I did not notice the same excitement as I’d seen in 2011 and 2012. I hope it’s just me. I almost had the feeling our ArtsFest had competition that was drawing some of our usual exhibitors and artists elsewhere. Seems a lot of regulars were missing.
I’m glad you had a great time, and I hope everyone else did, too. I only spent an hour there this year because walking is hard for me now. I used to go early and stay until the park exhibits had closed. I’ll be writing my blogs on this event soon, in daily doses.
I do appreciate all the effort Anne, Sasha, and so many others put into this event, and I hope it was profitable enough to support their work this year. I didn’t see the auction results because I got tired and had to leave before the auctions.
Barbara, sorry to hear you weren’t totally pleased with the event. We were. I realize that things do change and I think change is good. If it were the exact same every year I think I would get bored. The event has grown…this year included a handful of artists from around the U.S. and overseas. I’ve been really impressed each year I have been. Very thankful we have Studios on the Park and this event in an area like Paso.