There were over 170 Artists and Vendors on display at the Lewiston Art Festival. The Iroquois Market was a big event, along with College Alley and the Chalk Walk Invitational. Children enjoyed the, Make and Take Activities. And crowds gathered at the Music and Food Vendors.
Once again, the Lewiston Council on the Arts outdid themselves!
The middle of the road was the best place to walk through Lewiston, NY, and see all the booths and events, and the sidewalk with its quaint shops, including boutiques, cafes, bakeries, and antiques, offered as much. Two walkways on either side of the street meant no one was left out. To see it all, you could walk through both ways four times.
From Mayor Anne Welch
“We are very excited to welcome back the 56th annual Lewiston Art Festival. Lewiston has never looked better, and people are ready to stroll down Center Street and enjoy the many artists and their works. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Lewiston Council on the Arts for their service, dedication, and hard work in making the Art Festival one of our best festivals!”
Mayor Anne Welch
About the Lewiston Art Festival
This was the Lewiston Art Festival’s 56th year. Named as the “Top Cultural Destination” by First Sunday Magazine; “Summer Festival Showcase Event,” Bi-National Niagara Tourism Alliance; US News, “10 Perfect Places to Plan a Trip,” and Buffalo Spree Magazine, “Hot 5/An Opinionated to-do list.”
Young Artists
In keeping with the Lewiston Council on Art’s commitment to fostering the development of young artists, College Alley again featured the work of the high school and college students near 8th street. It provided a unique opportunity to gain exhibiting experience and showcase their work.
Modern Corporation generously co-sponsored the “Modern Art Awards” in 7 categories, including; painting, photography, graphic arts, mixed media, Artistic Crafts I: jewelry, Artistic Crafts II: fiber, leather, wood, and Artistic Crafts III: glass, ceramic, metal. Best in Show and Best Booth awards were also chosen.
Amazing Chalk Art
At the intersection of Center Street and 5th Streets, crowds eagerly watched the internationally recognized 3D chalk artist, Anthony Cappetto, add 4D Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to his 3D mural to create a unique viewing experience on the street. Anthony Cappetto is the founder of Art for “After Hours” and a pioneer in using AR and VR technologies in this genre. He has brought his art to venues across the US, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. Alongside Anthony will be two elite teams of students representing Lewiston Porter and Niagara Falls High School for the first-ever Chalk Walk Invitational.
The Iroquois Market
Hennepin Park Gazebo was transformed into an Iroquois Market, bringing the rich culture of our Haudenosaunee friends and neighbors. Several performances were enjoyed from the Gazebo featuring traditional and contemporary Native American culture expressed through art, music, drumming, and dance.
The Iroquois Market featured more than a dozen Native artisans. The host and emcee, Randy Greene, introduced the Niagara River Iroquois Dancers, Perry Ground, Talking Turtle Stories, and two singer/songwriters, Mark Porter & Darryl Tonemah.
Fun and Face Painting for Everyone
There was plenty of interactive fun for all ages at the Festival this year. People walked around with henna tattoos, faces painted, and fun caricatures everywhere. Wholesome fun for everyone, from grandparents to the kiddies.
Activities For Everyone!
There were 2 FREE hands-on activity areas this year. It was super fun for kids of all ages!
- Featuring the Lewiston Public Library, where kids were invited to make a “Sharktastic” shark magnet!
- Showcase featuring Artpark’s free family activities at the Festival. From artmaking by the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University.
- The Iroquois Market, Featured, How to make a “Jitterbug,” a popular Tuscarora craft.
Festival-artist Douglas Mess designed this year’s colorful Art Festival T-Shirt to commemorate the 56th Art Festival. Douglas was on hand to talk to people and showcase his art.
A Few Four-Legged Friends brought their masters along for the exercise 🙂
Special Thanks To Our Art Festival Sponsors:
Town of Lewiston, Village of Lewiston, Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, Modern Corporation
Chalk Art Sponsors:
KeyBank, Mount St. Mary’s Hospital. Anthony Cappetto’s residency was made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Services Inc.
Iroquois Market Sponsor: AMD Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Lewiston Council on the Arts Presents numerous great events throughout the year.
Lewiston is rich in history!
Looking for a little libation is no stranger to all who have visited this place since the 1600s! One early tavern was saved from burning during the War of 1812 by a special cocktail invented by Catherine Hustler. She and her husband owned the Hustler’s Tavern and, over the years before the war, had entertained many a British officer in their tavern with a special Gin concoction called, The Cocktail.
From the accounts, Catherine must have been quite a character as she never revealed the ingredients of this libation except that it contained Gin with a stirring of a tail feather of a stuffed cockerel. No doubt Mr. Hustler, possibly the chef, always had a stuffed cockerel roasting over the fire to serve the tavern goers. Hence always a new tail feather to be had.
Catherine’s secret recipe is still safe, as she would say, “It warms both soul and body and is fit to be put in a vessel of diamonds.”
As the story goes, the tavern was spared during the battle that took place at daybreak on December 19, 1813. A horrific event in which the town’s buildings and many of its people were lost. You can read more about The history of Lewiston at this link.
One note of heroism is told about this massacre. The Tuscarora Indians came to the rescue and saved dozens who otherwise would have been killed.
Further Reading
- Lewiston, a book by Suzanne Simon Dietz
- Too Close to the Falls, by Catherine Gildiner
- Freedom Crossing by Margaret Goff Clark
Look at this blog to see the Iroquois Market at a previous Lewiston Art Festival.
for mentions of creative people, books, products, places, or businesses mentioned in this post.
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