3rd annual Zadok Festival to be held in Salem
By KEVIN HOWELL
POSTED: June 21, 2008
SALEM— Despite a lack of the financial support expected, the Larwen Council for the Arts will still hold its 3rd annual Zadok Street Art Festival at the Kent State City Center June 28.
Featuring national acts, such as folk artist Hank Arbaugh, story-teller Andy Fraenkel and jazz artist Jesse Dandy, the event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with an evening concert at 8 p.m.
“We’re bringing people here [to perform] that normally wouldn’t come here,” said Festival Chairperson Julie Wack. “The goal is to expose the community to different kinds of art forms.”
Focusing extensively on children’s activities, Wack said the festival is an attempt to infuse art into the children’s lives.
“The festival is just one way to help the children grow up with art as an intricate part of their lives instead of just a peripheral activity,” she said.
Daytime activities include chalk drawing in front of the City Center at 11:30 a.m.; a performance of “Songs of the Underground Railroad” by Arbaugh at 12:30 p.m. in the center’s library on the second floor; multicultural story-telling by Fraenkel at 1:30 p.m. in the library; and art activities with Caroline Hardman and Kathy Hill from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the library. Additional activities will be available in the Salem Storybook Museum on the second floor. All activities are free and open to the public.
Following a short break after the daytime activities, The Jesse Dandy Ensemble will perform a jazz concert at 8 p.m. in the City Center Auditorium. A member of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Dandy has performed with such jazz luminaries as Cab Calloway, Little Jimmy Scott, Glen Covington and Eddie Harris. Performing throughout the northeast Ohio area for nearly 20 years, he has served as educational director for the Northeast Jazz Society. Following the concert, Dandy will be available for questions.
Cost for the evening concert is adults $8, seniors and students $5 and children five and under free. Light refreshments will be served in the garden, weather permitting.
In addition to the planned activities, art work by area artists will be on display all day on the City Center’s second floor. Parking will be available behind the building.
By providing Salem with as much art and culture as possible, Larwen Council for the Arts and the Zadok Street Art Festival both are important to the city, according to Wack.
“The large special events in the town are great, but they are only once a year,” she said. “The arts are something that can help the downtown stay viable all year round.”
Kevin Howell can be reached at khowell@salemnews.net
