My friendly art escort, Mark Waskow- one of the Art Hop's organizers. We enjoyed some lively discussion regarding our different approaches to art collecting. I had the pleasure of being this year's jurist for the Burlington Art Hop in Vermont. The event does not take place until the weekend of September 11 & 12, but I had to do the jurying before hand. Even though all pieces entered are included, there is a selection for the jurist's show and awards for first, second and third place for paintings and for sculptures.
The Art Hop is run by SEABA- the South End Arts and Business Association. I was very interested in what they were doing to create a relationship between Commerce and the Arts as I serve on the board of Concord Main Street and Concord's Creative Economy Task Force. I had an opportunity to meet Carlos Haase, their dynamic director who makes sure the events ha
ppens without a hitch. It is a big event that attracts 40,000!I have been to Burlington Vermont many times over the years but I did not know about the South End. It is a fun mix of antique stores, bakeries, used book shops, artists, light industrial and more. It is a place I plan to visit again.
I can personally recommend Myers Bagels for breakfast & Fresh Market for lunch. I had a tuna on baguette although the cold sweet potato salad looked really good. (I am on the hunt for the best tuna salad on the East Coast.) I was simply too full for even a cookie from Harvest Bakery, but they looked liked they serve a mean sandwich too.The art work was wildly varied- both in skill level and content. But it is hard to not be caught up in the exuberance of the event and the variety of art to see in one walkable area. It sounds like a real happening. If you are in the area I highly recommend a visit. I regret that I was so caught up in the activity of judging that I neglected taking photos of the outdoor sculpture. These run the gamut from monumental keys, to interactive drumming posts and a shrine to outdated appliances swathed in burrs- don't let your dog get too close!
