Archive: Arts & Entertainment

Art.  Film.  Wine Tasting.  Food.  Music.  History.  Chocolate Tasting.  Scavenger Hunt.  Door prizes.  And a lot more art.  Wrap them all up and you have the second annual East Shore Festival Of The Arts (ESFOTA).  After a greater than expected success last year, the festival is back with a grand opening next week on May 13th that promises to be one of the top events of the year.  And it's not just about art.

"I'm really excited about this year, because we're not only doing our wine tasting, but we're doing a chocolate tasting," says organizer Robin Schuttenberg.  "Lucienne's of Trumansburg will be hosting a chocolate tasting in the library, and our wine tasting will be in the Town Hall."

Last year organizers expected around 200 people for the opening and more than 300 showed up.  This year they are planning for 350 to 400, but Schuttenberg says it could be more than that.  96 pieces by 36 artists will be shown this year.  A small jury chose the pieces.

"It wasn't so much that their art wasn't good enough," Schuttenberg says.  "We just don't have enough wall space.  We're hanging 96 pieces of art this year.  Last year we hung 80 and we felt we were pretty full.  It's going to be a challenge this year.  A lot of the pieces are bigger."


"She's got more artists and pieces to hang than last year," Lansing Recreation Director Steve Colt told the Town Board.  "Now she's in a situation where it's going to get bigger than we've got space to exhibit.  It's definitely worth seeing."

And feeling, and tasting, and hearing.  Between the art on the walls, participatory  and performance art, food, and flowers there will be something for everyone.

"Each year we're looking to bring something a little different and fun," she says.  "We're trying to engage all of their senses this year.  That's the theme to engage touch, taste, looking, listening, and just enjoying everything."


The Bob Keefe Trio will be back in the jury box in the courtroom, and paul Kemkes will be playing Jazz in the library.  Take Your Pick Flower Farm is providing flowers.  Crossroad's Restaurant's Jay Dietershagen will provide hors d'œuvres.  Last year they were devoured early in the opening.  Tops Market is providing fruit, cheese, and crackers again this year, and The Cinnamon Shop is providing cookies.

"Every single one of them went last year," Schuttenberg says.  "There was not a crumb left."

From 7:30 to 8:30 local artist Ann Krejewski will be doing a performance art piece that will be recorded for her popular cable access program, Quiet Asylum.

"She will be painting and filming her show.  She will have a finished piece of art work when she's done.  People can kibbitz and talk to her while she's painting and maybe you'll end up being on television.  I understand that she has quite a following, and she's promised me that this will be PG.


The Lansing Historical Association will open the Field School House for the event.  Schuttenberg has had jigsaw puzzles made from local historical photographs.  Visitors will also get a chance to design a logo for the Lansing Farmer's Market.  A scavenger hunt will encourage people to find specific pieces of art on the walls.

"This is meant to be fun.  This is a fun, relaxed, enjoy the moment, enjoy the music, enjoy the art event-- and maybe you'll want to buy some and take it home with you because a lot of it is for sale.  Many of the artists will be there so you will get a chance to talk to them about their work and what inspires it."

The ESFOTA opening reception starts on May 13 at 6:00pm in the Lansing Town Hall and the Lansing Community Library.  The exhibit will continue to be displayed through July 18.

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