BOLD Beautiful Art In the Park brings eclectic mix of media to region

By Wensdy Von Buskirk

As Art In the Park gears up for its 43rd year, it remains on the cutting edge of creativity. Organizer Raychel Rork says the festival, which takes over downtown Plymouth July 7-9, features artists exploring media in delightful ways.

“I think what we’re seeing a lot of this year is there’s a lot of artists pushing the boundaries and pushing the limits of what their art is or can be,” Rork says.

That means many surprises as you stroll amongst the 400 artists from across the country who will exhibit in Kellogg Park and surrounding streets.

You might be stopped in your tracks by a juicy cantaloupe that turns out to be a exact ceramic replica, a life-size mannequin covered in mirrored disco-ball tiles, or a gorgeous high-end shawl imprinted with a photo of the Detroit skyline.

Rork said she and the other jurists were impressed as they combed through submissions for this year’s fair. Today’s artists seem to be pushing limits, mixing media and exploring the limits of what can be done with clay, paint, photography and more.

“It was really fun jurying this year,” Rork says. “From their use of materials to bold, unapologetic creativity, you’re going to see lots of in-your-face, new, different and crazy stuff.”

Instead of making a simple coffee table, an artist will cut a hole in the center and suspend flower petals in resin. Instead of a traditional quilt, another will take a photograph of your cat and incorporate it into a fabric landscape.

Even portraits of your favorite celebrities have surprising twists.

The talent is world-class, Rork says.

“We have multiple artists who have also participated in ArtPrize on a much bolder, larger scale,” Rork says. “They’ve competed with some of the best artists in our area and beyond.”

Of course, Michigan’s second-oldest art fair also features many familiar faces.

“It’s always exciting when we get something new that we’ve never seen before, but of course we love to get our favorites back,” Rork says.

As striking art takes over the vendor tables, bold flavors will be featured at various food stands. New this year is Fork In Nigeria, featuring African cuisine like Fufu, Puff Puff, and stewed meats over Jollof rice.

You’ll also find a converted bike cart peddling fresh pressed sugarcane juices with lavender and rose petals. Grab-and-go as you browse to the sounds of reggae band Roots Vibration, playing throughout the weekend.

“You’ll feel like you’re in the Caribbean somewhere, sipping your lavender-infused mocktail,” Rork says.

As always, the festival features tons of hands-on children’s activities like sandy candy art, face painting, candlemaking, henna and adventure theater. It also showcases entertainment including comedy juggling, a vibraphone player and a living statue.

Admission is free, and a shuttle from nearby Schoolcraft College makes parking a breeze.

For more information on the festival, visit artinthepark.com.

What: A celebration of creativity, music, and fun

Where: Kellogg Park (downtown Plymouth)

When: July 7-9

Hours: Fri. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Who: 400+ artists along with food vendors, entertainers and visitors from throughout the region

How: Park at Schoolcraft College and take an air-conditioned shuttle to the show!

Info: artinthepark.com