Artsplosure: Annual festival soars to new heights in its 31st year
If you haven’t had the opportunity to take in one of the most anticipated annual events on the Raleigh arts calendar, then make this the year you change that. Considered to be among the Southeast’s top arts festivals , "Artsplosure" descends upon downtown's historic Moore Square and City Market on Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16, promising two full days of premium juried art, renowned musical performances, hands-on activities and the world premiere of Mirazozo, an exhilarating new luminarium created by England’s acclaimed Architects of Air.
What started as an eclectic platform with a mission to identify, nurture and present artists to a wider audience has grown over the last 30 years into a highly regarded showcase of national, regional and local established and emerging talent. The competitive juried show features the very best of artists in all mediums. Find original, handcrafted ceramics, fiber art, glass works, jewelry, metal works, painting, photography and wood working among other categories well represented by 172 participating visual artists and crafters from across the country.
For the music lover, this year’s line-up impresses. Two adult music stages will alternate all day, keeping the crowd rocking nonstop with jazz, blues, soul, funk, rock, hip hop and pop. Saturday’s line up kicks off at 1pm and continues through 10pm with highly anticipated headliner Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe capping off the night. Sunday’s stages crank up at 11am, offering rousing gospel from local choir JJ Wilkins & Voices of WCC and continues into a grand finale performance by legendary bluesman Charlie Musselwhite at 5pm.
The festival also features Kidsplosure, the lively component geared toward kids of all ages that offers interactive exhibits and presents musical performances on a dedicated third stage.
As if the art and music was not enough to keep you more than entertained, the icing on the cake of this year’s Artsplosure is the 6,000-square-foot luminarium, Mirazozo, that will engulf City Plaza. Making its only appearance in the United States in 2010, this inflatable sculpture of translucent vinyl is best described as a sensual world of liquid light and color that inspires and affects all who enter.
Although Artsplosure is free to attend, there is a $5 charge to experience Mirazozo. For a full listing of artists, musical schedule, and admission times to Mirazozo, click here for details.
HelloRaleigh Tip: This grand event draws upwards of 80,000 people and counting. Get a jumpstart on the festival crowds by doing some preliminary scouting for artists you want to be sure to find over the course of the two days at www.artsplosure.org.
Posted by Angela Risko
