Monumental murals and sculpture begin appearing in White Plains
Monumental murals and sculpture begin appearing in White Plains
The works are part of the Serious Fun Arts Fest, a five-day celebration of public art and music from October 12-16.
WHITE PLAINS, NY (August 17, 2022) — A series of monumental murals and sculptures are appearing in downtown White Plains as part of the Serious Fun Arts Fest, a street celebration of public art.
The five-day Serious Fun Arts Fest (Oct. 12-16) in downtown White Plains will brighten the city with activities ranging from concerts to live mural painting, a public art walking tour and dancing in the streets. There will be performance art, massive public art unveilings by renowned artists, fun family artmaking and more throughout downtown.
Artist Chris Soria is painting an 18-by-30-foot mural at the former Macy’s at the White Plains Galleria entitled “Painted Lady in the Ironweeds.”
“In my work, I’ve been inspired by nature and this spot is an ideal canvas for me to explore my focus on making these really small insects, in danger of extinction, really large in my murals. I am treating the new mural 3-dimmensionally and playing with a juxtaposition of hard geometry with an organic natural image. This is a pairing that I particularly enjoy exploring in my work. Certainly, working on the street in White Plains takes the work of the artist out into the public transforming the entire process and making the art available to all,” explains artist Chris Soria.
Other new monumental new works of public art in downtown White Plains include:
A Serious Fun Block Party and Headliner Concert Celebration are scheduled for October 15 and 16 on Mamaroneck Avenue, which will be closed to vehicles.
On October 15 block party performers include Matt Turk & Friends, Will Evans and Porter Carroll, Jr. The celebration’s headliner event is October 16 with performances by Sammy Rae & The Friends, The Brighton Beat and ANDROMEDA. Sammy Rae & The Friends is an electrifying act that is selling out concert venues in New York City and throughout the East Coast. The band channels a kaleidoscope of influences ranging from classic rock to soul in high-energy performances. Tickets for the Sunday headliner event are $25. Music all day on Saturday is free.
“When we talk about ‘Serious Fun,’ we are talking about bringing the arts outdoors, right onto the street for everyone to enjoy… isn’t that a fun way to bring our community together? says ArtsWestchester CEO Janet Langsam. “The five days of public art and music is all about access – – on and off the walls in White Plains for visitors and residents of all ages.”
Successful “mural fests” in urban settings like Jersey City, Miami and Brooklyn inspired the strategy behind the Serious Fun Arts Fest. The festival is accessible from Metro North’s White Plains train station.
The festival is ArtsWestchester’s latest investment in a public art program that since 2020 has provided artists with more than $700,000 in grants and commissions and delivered two dozen new works throughout Westchester County.
The Serious Fun Arts Fest is possible thanks to a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the state’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Major support is also provided by Montefiore Einstein, the festival’s presenting sponsor.
Click here for tickets for the October 16 concert.
Contact: Ernie Garcia, Thompson & Bender, ernie@thompson-bender.com or 914-762-1900