Baiwoop Art and Music Festival includes art in all of its forms
By Angela Workman
August 2, 2012
490
Natures mystical appeal was enhanced by the second annual Baiwoop Art and Music Festival at the OARDCs Secrest Arboretum and Gardens July 28. The space was pumped full of life, offering appeal and stimulation to all of the senses.
The event featured interactive demonstrations, music, vinyl record sales, a drum circle, paintings, pottery, ceramics, jewelry, clothing and food vending from local restaurants. The festival doubled the amount of artists they had last year and the turnout from the community was also good, despite the early afternoon showers.
We kind of invented the word baiwoop. Its basically a made up noun. We invented this noun and we invented the definition. The definition is a gathering of creative minds, whose intention is to expose the community to the beauty that surrounds it, said Gretchen Pleuss, co-coordinator of the festival along with Matt Shultzman, OARDC employee.
Tucked into the gardens and trees, the festival delivered a comforting and peaceful spirit for community members. The artists had the opportunity to showcase and sell their items and a silent auction provided funds for the recovery of the Secrest Arboretum, which was damaged by a tornado in 2010.
I think people really appreciate just being able to come to a beautiful place like this and see art and music and feel a little uplifted, Pleuss said. We dont single out whats better art than others. All art is equal.
The festival included nearly every realm of art and Pleuss said she would like to see more live demonstrations in the future, as they are popular with the attendees. More exposure for the event was another goal of future festivals.
Eric Muhlfelder was at Baiwoop with his drums, offering the community insight into his talent. Visitors to the festival weaved in and out of his tent, taking a few moments to play some beats.
Im trying to perfect the drum, Muhlfelder said. Its a hobby of mine. I like making drums. Ive been messing around with them for years,
Linda Alexander-Radak was another artist showcasing her artwork, which was comprised of many bright colors and themes. She explained that her Day of the Dead paintings are about celebrating life.
This is what I do for a living. I am an artist full time, Alexander-Radak said. Im a little ADD. I get bored easily, so my work varies.
There were more than 20 artists at Baiwoop, and many of the artists and musicians are friends of the organizers, which helped inspire the event. There were also artists from out of town who had heard of the festival. Pleuss added that the purpose of the event was to get everyone together, blending art and nature harmoniously.
Its being able to help people out. I like that artists are free to come here and they feel comfortable, Pleuss said. Its also about being in nature. A lot of people, I think, forget to go out into nature and experience the beauty of it. So, this is the perfect place for that. Its the perfect setting for an artistic and creative feeling because being in nature can be a big outlet for creativity or inspiration for creativity.
