An Art and Music Festival
A Festival of the Arts at Ashawagh Hall in Springs on Saturday will feature free art workshops, student performances, raffles of art supplies and musical instruments, a tree planting ceremony, and a miniature version of the Mystery Art Sale, which had been held in the last two years and is being replaced by the festival.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the tree to be planted in memory of the late Springs artist Ralph Carpentier at 11 a.m. Workshops in different arts with 15 artists, each lasting 30 to 40 minutes, follow between 12 and 4 p.m. An exhibition of student artwork will be on view and also open to the public on Thursday and Friday. “This year we decided to do something a little bit different,” Colleen McGowan, an art teacher at the school, said on Tuesday. “It’s a give-back to the community for their support over the last couple of years of the unified arts program at the Springs School.”
Angelina Modica, the music teacher, explained that the school’s unified arts program brings together several disciplines, including art, music, and theater, and others. For instance, students will demonstrate African drumming, which was taught by a Sag Harbor drummer, along with lessons on African history.
The drumming program was made possible by the Greater East Hampton Education Foundation, which provided money to buy drums, materials for the students to create costumes, and to bring a professional teacher. The Festival of the Arts is sponsored in part by the East Hampton Arts Council and the Springs School PTA.
Also at the festival, cards showing historical Springs scenes drawn by fourth graders will be for sale. Proceeds from the card sales, as well as the raffles and art sale will benefit the unified arts program.
“We’re hoping for a warm, sunny, celebratory day of creating art and music with the community, highlighting the Springs School, and thanking the community for their support over the years,” Ms. McGowan said.