2014 Paso Robles art festival is Saturday
Paso Robles art festival changes its name and adds event
The Paso Robles Festival of the Arts has changed its name and is effectively “upping its game” for 2014 with a list of new features designed with art lovers and county visitors in mind. Now dubbed “Paso Artsfest,” the largest free art event in San Luis Obispo County has a week’s worth of activities planned for artists, visitors and county residents in addition to the much-beloved main event that takes place the Saturday of every Memorial Day weekend in the Paso Robles downtown City Park.
“With all of the fantastic press Paso Robles has been getting lately, this is the perfect time for our art festival to reach out to potential visitors who appreciate wine, food, art and beautiful scenery,” states Barbara Partridge, Paso Artsfest chairwoman. “We know that people are coming here on vacation for Memorial Day weekend, we are offering them the opportunity to make the arts part of their experience in a much bigger way than ever before.”
Name Change
The first major change is the name of the festival. The biggest arts event in the county will now be called “Paso Artsfest” and a new logo will be rolled out. The shorter name reflects the fun feeling and easy accessibility of the event and ties the event to its parent organization, Studios on the Park, more clearly. “This is a strategic change for Studios on the Park,” states Anne Laddon, founder of Studios on the Park and artistic director for the Paso Artsfest. “Few people realize that Studios on the Park is a nonprofit organization that throws this fabulous festival every year to get the community excited about the arts. The new fun name and logo gives us a way to let SLO County know about our valuable mission and let visitors know that there is a whole host of amazing artist talent on display in their favorite wine region.”
Hearst Castle Art Tour and Luncheon
Hearst Castle has been a magnet for art lovers since its inception as a state park and continues to attract visitors from all over the world to view the largest private collection of art ever assembled in one place. Friends of Hearst Castle is partnering with Paso Arts Fest to accomplish two important missions – attract art-loving visitors to the Central Coast on Memorial Day weekend and then work with Studios on the Park to bring local school children to the Castle for an art field trip during the 2014 school year.
Friends of Hearst Castle is hosting a behind-the-scenes art-focused tour on Friday, May 23, 2014. Limited to 56 people, the tour led by a special art-focused guide, will highlight the unique art collection of the Castle and include a luncheon on the beautiful terraces of La Casa del Mar. “Friends of Hearst Castle is excited to be a sponsor of the 2014 Paso Artsfest and are looking forward to hosting visitors for the special Art Tour and Luncheon at Hearst Castle on Friday, May 23, 2014,” states Kristin Rasmussen, board president of Friends of Hearst Castle. “Building a relationship with the Central Coast arts community and reminding visitors to the area of the Castle’s close proximity to Paso Robles wine country is a great way to reach new audiences for both organizations. We look forward to continuing mutually beneficial relationships with Studios on the Park and the Paso Artsfest.”
Keynote Speaker & Judge Quang Ho
Quang Ho was born on April 30, 1963, in Hue, Vietnam. His family fled to the United States in 1975 and is a U.S. citizen and an internationally renowned artist and philosopher. Working mostly in oils and occasionally watercolor and pastels, Ho’s subject matter ranges from still-life, landscapes, interiors, and dancers, to figuratives. One of the most talented and expressive painters of our time, Ho is much sought after to give lectures and workshops around the world. He has produced a number of teaching DVDs and is currently working on a book of his philosophy and work. He will be the keynote speaker during the State of the Art dinner on Friday, May 23, 2014 and will be teaching a three-day workshop after the festival.
Wet Paintings Sale & Auction
The stars have aligned in a magical way and so a remarkable roster of talented artists from all over the country have signed on to participate in this year’s Paso Artsfest. They will spend the days prior to the festival painting on the Central Coast and will exhibit and sell these special paintings at the Wet Painting Sale & Auction on Saturday, May 24, 2014 in the downtown city park.
Fermented Arts Wine Tour – Behind the Scenes with Paso Winemakers
See how a barrel can be a canvas when the rock star winemakers of Paso’s west side explain the art of winemaking and following Van Gogh’s example of creating new traditions by breaking all the rules. Includes transportation; three private westside winery tours with the winemakers; a vineyard lunch, water and snacks. $65 per person and limited to 30 attendees.
The Main Event
The Outdoor Fine Art Show & Sale will feature 50+ nationally- and regionally-acclaimed artists who will exhibit and sell artworks ranging from painting, jewelry, drawing, ceramic, glass, textiles, wood, photography and mixed media. The Kids Art Smart Zone, located along Spring Street, will once again have eight hands-on art stations for kids, along with a full day’s performances on the youth stage, musical petting zoo, face painters, stilt walkers, etc.
The extremely popular Sand Masters will return with an expanded sand sculpting area on Pine Street that will feature demonstrations on the hour and half hour. There will once again be live music throughout the day on Pine Street, the signature exhibition showing at Studios on the Park, festival merchandise for sale, a free Bike Valet service and the signature and ever-popular stilt walkers will return to stalk the park, to the delight of all. There will be food and beverages for sale in the park. A portion of the day’s proceeds, including food, beverage and art sales, goes to benefit Studios on the Park community art programs.
About the Paso Artsfest
Celebrating the arts every Memorial Day Weekend in the Paso Robles City Park, this year the Main Event of the Paso Artsfest takes place Saturday, May 24, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day features an Outdoor Fine Art Show & Sale, a Wet Painting Sale & Auction, hands-on interactive art experiences all over the park, exciting musical guests, dance performances and a full day’s worth of entertaining and artistic surprises. This event is free to the public. For more information on the entire weeks’ worth of activities for artists and art lovers, go to www.pasoartsfest.com.
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