Contact:

Press contact: Douglas Rice, Executive Director

(585) 256-3336, cell 917-224-2347

For Immediate Release

ARTWalk Comes Alive This Sunday!

Annual festival features performances, children’s activities, sculpture commissioning announcement and “Motorcycle Mambo”

September 13, 2003, Rochester, NY- University Avenue will close from 12-4 on Sunday, Sept. 19 from Atlantic Ave. to Elton St. for partying on the Avenue. Dancers, musicians, poets and visual artists will perform at various sites on University Avenue as part of ARTWalk's fourth annual celebration, “ARTWalk Alive!” The event is free and open to the public.

"People really enjoy this free performing arts festival", says Executive Director Douglas Rice, "because the focus is on just that.... watching, and participating in, the arts."

At 2 pm, Mayor Johnson and other dignitaries will lead the "revealing" of the next jury-selected sculpture to be commissioned for placement along ARTWalk, the "ABSC sculpture". The theme of this sculpture intends to recognize the many contributions of Rochester's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered community in the arts, social services and business endeavors. Funding for this project has been a grassroots level collaboration between ABSC and ARTWalk.

"We see the ABSC as a wonderful model of partnership between ARTWalk and other groups to fund a wide variety of future art along ARTWalk" according to Mr. Rice. The groups' funds were matched by $7000 from the Mayors' "Sector Targeted Funding Initiative" and will be dedicated May 1, 2005.

Featured attractions include:

 “Dances on the Avenue” featuring performances of Dance performances range from modern dance to African dance to belly dancing.

 “Music on the Block” featuring music ranging from Appalachian and funk to the blues, jazz, and improvisation.

"Word on the Street" includes spoken word ranging from Erie Canal Stories to

Freestyle "Slam" poetry, from Latina monologues with drums to avant garde

scatting with saxaphone.

"Artists At Work" is a new feature, where visual artists show how they work. Eight artists will be creating works while attendees watch. The styles include painting, sidewalk chalk art, geometric shapes, and glass working.

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 Food will be available for purchase from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Abbott’s Frozen Custard, Starry Nights Café, Edibles, the Corner Store, and Snapple.

 Purchase raffle tickets to win works by local artists Paul Harp and Richard Margolis.

 Grand Finale: “Motorcycle Mambo” The Rochester Motorcycle Coalition and others join dancers in this one-of-a-kind dance choreographed by Thomas Warfield.

Additionally there will be a wide variety of activities for all ages provided by many of the areas' arts organizations and businesses. Returning this year will be fire trucks with activities for children. Writers & Books is holding a "Small Press Fair", the George Eastman House will be overseeing "Sun Prints", and the Rochester Area Federation of Round & Square Dance Clubs will offer dancing lessons, the Memorial art gallery is offering reduced admission (only $1). There will be plenty of other activities for the whole family.

For the complete schedule of events and more information on ARTWalk Alive! Call (585) 234-6670 or visit us online at www.rochesterARTWalk.org.

Volunteers are still needed for this event. If you are interested in volunteering, email ARTWalk@rochester.rr.com

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 ARTWalk is an interactive, living museum in continual progress along  University Avenue. ARTWalk runs between the Memorial Art Gallery and the George Eastman House. The museum now operates as an independent non-profit museum, which acquires and maintains art works that celebrate the spirit of the community. ARTWalk also holds events and programs to encourage members of the eight-county Rochester area to enjoy and participate in the arts. ARTWalk is the 2003 recipient of the US Conference of Mayors "City Livability" award and the Common Good Planning Centers' "Uncommonly Good" award.

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