[StBernard] Art in April Fest A Success Under Sunny Skies in Torres Park

[Westley Annis]

Art in April Fest A Success Under Sunny Skies in Torres Park 

Patron Party and Public Concert held evening before fest;  

Beautiful day draws families to Torres Park to enjoy arts, crafters, music
and children's activities 

 

The 14th annual Art in April poster, "St. Bernard Parish - History,
Heritage, Home," was unveiled on Friday night, April 16 at a private Patron
Party.  Patrons feasted on fresh fruit and vegetables, over-stuffed chicken
salad croissants, artichoke dip and crab mold catered by Mark Madary as they
browsed through the creative displays of children's art and silent auction
items. Eleven collectible works of art from pottery to coffee and ink
paintings were available for friendly silent bidding wars.

 

At 7:00 p.m., patrons joined dozens of folks in Torres Park for the free
Swingaroux concert.  Under the lights of a festive main stage, provided by
Emile Pellittieri and the Sheriff's Department, music lovers clapped, sang
along and danced to the big band sounds. "This was the best free date in
town," said Polly Campbell Boudreaux, the festival's chairwoman. "We know
the word will spread to young and young at heart couples alike for next
year's event." 

 

Sunny skies and a cool breeze met festival goers Saturday morning as the
Chalmette High Chorus, under the direction of Annelise Cassar, opened the
event by singing the National Anthem. The NOBA After School Ballet followed
with beautiful little ballerinas twirling for a crowd of admiring fans.  The
cover band melodies of Vieux Carre filled the festival grounds as festival
goers enjoyed delicious seafood pasta and brownie sundaes from Charlie's
Restaurant, red beans and fried chicken from First Baptist Verrett, pralines
and pies from Grammy's, frilled oysters and alligator sausage from Riverbend
Bistro and stuffed bread and egg rolls from 1st Pentecostal Church. The
Rotary Club offered pizza, and there was always a line at Screamin Meanies
where you could cool off with a snowball. St. Bernard 4-H sold soft drinks,
and the Chamber of Commerce and St. Bernard Tourism Commission sold water,
rounding out the refreshment booths.

 

Over 35 crafters offered handmade children's wear, Saints memorabilia,
Parisian and jewelry, and handcrafted wooden furniture. Fine art prints were
available under the The St. Bernard Art Guild Pavilion as well as t-shirts,
tote bags and the signature poster featuring the beautiful mural from the
lobby of the St. Bernard Parish Government Complex by artists Donna Lind, Ed
Estopinal, Claire Pescay and the late Carol Smith. Artists Donna Lind, Ed
Estopinal and Claire Pescay of the St. Bernard Art Guild spent hours in the
last few months restoring the mural they painted along with the late Carol
Smith in January of 1996. The mural, which was made of a high quality
acrylic paint stood strong against Hurricane Katrina's flood waters but had
to be restored in some areas.

 

FREE children's activities include - pillow case painting, marble art,
butterfly wings, visor decorating and face painting.

 

The exhibitors include the 4 o'clock Flowers Cancer Foundation, Acadian
Ambulance, American Red Cross, Aquarium of the Americas Aqua Van, Animal
Shelter, Brushes N Bottles, Chalmette Battlefield, Fire Safety House, Green
Project, Home Depot, Interact and Key Clubs, N'Awlins Klownettes, Nunez
Community College - Art Department, Operation Southern Comfort (Slate/Art),
Parks and Parkway Commission, Sebastopol Plantation, St. Bernard Volunteers
for Family and Community, St. Bernard Wetlands and U.S. Census Bureau. 

 

This event is sponsored by St. Bernard Parish Government, Office of Tourism,
St. Bernard Parish Art Guild and St. Bernard Parish Schools and is made
possible through grant funding from the Louisiana Division of the Arts,
Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and
Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and the St.
Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs.

 

For more information about next year's event or to be a part of the planning
for the historic 15th annual Art in April, contact the St. Bernard Parish
Office of Tourism (504)278-4242 or e-mail emcdougal at sbpg.net
<mailto:emcdougal at sbpg.net.>  or visit our website at www.VisitStBernard.com
<http://www.visitstbernard.com/> . For more information about Recovery and
Growth in St. Bernard Parish, visit our website at www.sbpg.net
<https://mail.sbpg.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.sbpg.net/> .

 

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