Girl About O-Town

The New Art Festival took place this past weekend at Central Park in the Glebe.  Formerly known as “Art in the Park”, this year’s festival offered Ottawa art lovers a new and different take on one of this city’s favourite outdoor events. 

Image from The New Art Festival

Remaining true to its non-profit, non-commercial, community based roots, this year’s exhibition was fully juried for the first time, and prizes were awarded for Best 2-Dimensional Artist, Best 3-Dimensional Artist and Best Student Artist, as selected by The New Art Festival’s 2009 jury.  For this girlaboutOtown, the transition was a positive one.  While the quality and calibre of art was clearly enhanced, the festival’s casual feel and accessible atmosphere were certainly not compromised.   

This time, my little girlaboutOtown came along to see the show.   For a wee girl as prolific a painter as she, The New Art Festival was a true inspiration.  It was as though she had found a place among those  – like her – who are bold about colour, brave with their ideas, and uninhibited in their choices.  As she often does, she reminded me once again that she “has been an artist since the age of two”, and proudly paraded along as if she belonged.  Which of course she does! 

For her to see the artists with their art, and to understand that creativity can carry her through to adulthood, our Sunday stop at the park was definitely worth the time spent wandering.  The New Art Festival may end up being more than just a memory of a divinely delicious chocolate chip cookie for my little girlaboutOtown.  Instead, this experience may have already opened her mind to a path she might not otherwise have thought possible…

For a full list of this year’s participating artists, check here.