Spring was in the air this weekend at the Lynnfield Art Guild’s second annual Spring Arts Festival on the Town Common.
With live entertainment, a judged art show inside the Meeting House, numerous artisans, crafters and vendors, live artist demonstrations, a creative corner for children of all ages to express their creativity, and a delicious assortment of baked goods and treats, there was something for everyone.
LAG leadership team member Beth Aaronson said this year’s show was “top quality,” and she was pleased to see record participation from guild members — with 70 percent participating in the show and 50 percent volunteering.
“This is our second year back after the pandemic and once again, the weather has been spectacular. This year we are bigger and better with more booths and tables than ever, so this is a big success. For the first time, we invited our artists to do live painting. I think the only thing we missed was having food trucks, so look for those next year.”
Several artists submitted pieces keeping with this year’s theme, “celebrating the trees around us.” William Deveney’s “Roots” took the blue ribbon in that category.
“Heaven on Earth” by Catherine Grassello took first place in the Wakefield Cooperative Bank special awards category.
“Red” by Beverly Cook took first place in The Savings Bank category.
“Busy Harbor” by James Ryan took first place in the LAG Judges Awards category for oil and acrylic. Other judges awards winners were “Roses With a View” (watercolor and pastel) by Patricia O’Connor, “Tree Rings” (mixed media) by Laura Newman, and “Weeping Katsura” (photography) by Greg Ponevitz.
(The winner of the LAG peoples’ choice award had not been announced as of press time).
LAG Lynnfield High School student awards went to Christian Murphy, first place for “Stina Persson;” Emily Toscano, second place for “Walking the Ward;” Ella Feury, third place for “Porch Lights;” and Abigail Spillane, honorable mention for “Out of Shadow,” which was also honored as one of two The Savings Bank student awards along with Victoria Wing’s “My Life in Words.” “Little Leah” by Ella Hayman won the Wakefield Cooperative Bank student award.
The husband-and-wife team of Josh and Kim Polster, owners of Kish Pots ceramics, said this was their second year at the festival. The couple works out of their Wakefield home and has been in business for about five years, selling their wares at local festivals and farmers’ markets.
“We’ve done well today, which is great because that means there is less to pack up and bring home,” Josh said. “We love this festival. It’s a wonderful event and, like last year, we really lucked out with the weather.”
Lynnfield resident and LAG Treasurer Ann Leskiw manned the membership table. She said that art sales were going “fairly well considering there was so much to do outside. It’s hard to get everyone to come into the Meeting House because we have so many activities and the live music outside. But people are having a great time.”
Linda Ladd manned the Centre Congregational Church’s Green Team table Saturday. The team offers green detergent and other products to congregants once a month following church services in an effort to “encourage people to use less plastic.”
The festival kicked off with a special reception on Friday night.
“Every one of the nine Lynnfield High School students who submitted art came to the reception,” Leskiw said. “The energy was amazing and there was so much food it was like being at a restaurant. It’s so nice to see people so excited.”
LAG member Pauline Finberg said she was impressed with the time judges John Abisamra, Carolyn Latinision, and Maryann Seager spent on Friday evaluating the submitted art.
“They got here really early and stayed really late,” said Finberg, a Peabody resident who has belonged to the guild for about three years. “Everyone worked tirelessly meeting after meeting after meeting. You have to give credit to everyone. It was a true team effort.”
Leskiw said this year’s festival was “so much bigger than last year. We have more people signing up on-the-spot for guild memberships. I think they see the artwork and sign up. It seems like there is so much interest this year.”
