
DATE: Friday, May 23, 1997                  TAG: 9705210226

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY 

SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  102 lines

A NEW LOOK FOR AN ART SHOW WITH A NOD TO THE MUSIC, STORYTELLERS AND OTHER ARTISTS WHO ROUND OUT THE SHOW, IT HAS A NEW NAME.

A Faire for the Arts, Olde Towne, is the new name for the 27-year-old Seawall Art Show on the downtown waterfront this weekend.

The name of the Memorial Day weekend show was changed to eliminate some confusion with the Seawall Festival two weeks hence, Portsmouth Museums director Betty Burnell explained.

``People weren't sure which was which because the names were so similar,'' she said. ``And, at one time, they were on the same weekend. We separated the art show from the festival because the artists felt the crowd was not there to support art.''

Burnell said the new name also better reflects the total weekend festival, not just the art show.

``While the event focuses on visual arts, it has taken on a broader perspective with a stronger component of performing arts,'' she said.

But whatever the name and no matter what is added, the show will follow the longstanding traditions of the art show, with about 70 artists from the entire East Coast competing for about $4,000 in awards and $4,000 in purchase guarantees.

In addition, the Spike Award of $100 will be given again this year to the artist chosen by the public as their favorite. The award was financed by friends of the late Spike Splichal, a perennial exhibitor at the show and a volunteer on the show committee for many years.

A show by Portsmouth school students will be held again this year on Saturday. Nine awards, including a $100 first place prize, will be given to the winners in this show.

An addition this year will be a display by students from the Visual Arts Center of the Tidewater Community College. This exhibit will not be judged; however, TCC students will be encouraged to sell their works.

The weekend activities will include a full schedule of entertainment at Portside.

``While the show focuses on visual arts, it also has a strong component of performing arts to make it more of an arts festival,'' Burnell said.

The Children's Museum outreach department plans to set up a children's tent with several activities. Children will be able to decorate canvas painter's hats with fabric paint and participate in other activities.

In addition, the department plans to give a Kid's Pick award to the artist chosen by children. The children will decorate blue ribbons they will award to favorite artists.

The artists participating in the juried show come from the East Coast from New England to Florida. Their exhibits will include paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolor, mixed media, photographs, jewelry, pottery, woodwork and clay sculpture.

``It's a good group,'' Burnell said.

The show will be judged by Susanne Arnold of Richmond. Arnold's encaustic wax sculptures and paintings will be exhibited at the Portsmouth Arts Center in the 1846 Courthouse beginning today and continuing through July 20.

Arnold, who holds a master of fine arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, is a freelance curator and exhibition organizer. She has taught at several universities and colleges, and has directed galleries at the University of Richmond and at Mary Washington College.

Her work has been exhibited in a number of galleries, and she has received numerous awards, including two Virginia Museum of Fine Arts fellowships.

The awards include $1,500 for best in show; $1,000, second place; $750, third place; $500, fourth place; five $100 honorable mentions; and five $50 merit awards.

A Faire Feast to benefit the art show will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Harbor Tower picnic area.

The party is open to the public and costs $15 per person. It will be catered by Dave's Cove, with music by Jukebox Productions.

For tickets or information, call 393-8593.

Members of the committee working on the weekend activities in addition to Portsmouth Museums staff members include Pat Pfeiffer, Bobby Nash, Martha Ann Creecy, Herman Bates, Steve Milner, Peggy Davis, Harriett Laskin, Roger Brown and Mike Broadhurst. ILLUSTRATION: File illustration

The Spike Award, a $100 prize, will be given again this year in

honor of the late Spike Splichal, a frequent exhibitor at the

Seawall Art Show.

Graphic

THE ENTERTAINMENT

SATURDAY

11:30 a.m. - Constabulatory Band from Portsmouth, England

1 p.m. - ``Famous Review'' by the Hurrah Players

2 p.m. - Alborada, Peruvian folk music

2 p.m. - Harold Wood, magician and juggler

2:30 p.m. - Opus

3 p.m. - Sandy the clown with balloons