Queen City Arts Block Party comes to Poughkeepsie Main Street
Staff | September 20, 2013 | Comment
The fall’s first Queen City Block Party will come to Main Street Poughkeepsie on September 21, between 2-7PM. The Queen City Arts Block Party is led by the Dutchess County Arts Council in collaboration with local restaurants, artists, and business owners, bringing together artists, local food purveyors and musicians for a festive afternoon along Main Street in Poughkeepsie.
Regional artists will showcase their handmade items in pop-up tents, including artworks, jewelry, and photography, to name just a few.
Musicians, performers, dancers and drummers will be performing onstage at the Mural Park in the 200 block area of Main Street, hosted by Spoken Word Performance Artist, Gold featuring local favorites such as Six7, Retro Lake, Farewell to Fairview, King Wayvee the Great, Gregory Charlemagne, Evolving Wordsmiths & Open Mic in The Valley Performers. Dance is performed by M* Power Dancers, Nicholas Jackson, Jeff Live, and Quoiell “Q” Lewis. The Harlem Valley Drummers’ Community Drum Circle, and Psalmist, Chalese Bartee – a crowd pleasing favorites – returns again. Sound & Music for the afternoon is provided by DJ Andre Galliano.
There will be a pop-up gallery at 330 Main Street with an exhibit of local artist’s paintings, drawings, and prints. Across the street at the Mid-Hudson Heritage Center, enjoy the historical exhibit, Dutchess Treasures: Celebrating Dutchess County’s 300th Anniversary with an opening 5:00-7:00pm, 317 Main Street.
The Queen City Art Block Party music and performance will be located in the Mural Park, in the 200 block of Main Street. Artists and artisans will have their tents located along Main Street, between Market and Academy in Poughkeepsie, from 2:00 – 7:00pm.
Background:
In May 2012, the Arts Council, along with a talented group of volunteers, launched a monthly event that would showcase the arts and artists in our region. Beginning with pop-up galleries that made use of empty spaces along Main Street, to the outdoor literary readings at the Sculpture Park, it became clear that there was a strong need for places that artists could present their art. Public attendance and participation has evolved into what is now called “Queen City Arts,” with monthly events on the third weekend of the month. Local arts and cultural groups that have been launched from these efforts include the popular POK LIT, led by Cate Fricke, and Open Mic in the Valley, which brings a weekly audience of over 50 performers and audience to Poughkeepsie’s Main Street, led by Performance Artist, Poet Gold. In an area with few options to exhibit or perform new works, these monthly venues have made Poughkeepsie an artistic center for regional artists to participate on many levels – coming from the surrounding Counties of Dutchess, Ulster, Orange and Columbia.
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