Winterfest Artwalk Prepares to Showcase Local Artists

In mid-January, Chelmsford will bring art to its downtown. Peggy Dunn and Donna Berger have organized the first annual Winterfest Artwalk, an art show and competition showcased in the shop windows in downtown Chelmsford, in association with the Chelmsford Cultural Council and The Community Action Program.

Occupied and empty storefronts will be decorated by members of the Chelmsford Art Society starting January 16 in preparation for Chelmsford’s Winterfest, an event running from Feb. 3 to 5.

“I founded WinterFest in 1995 as a way to showcase open space, conservation land, park land (...) and show the value of different uses of these lands,” said Dunn. Dunn organized the event until 2000, when it was turned over to the Town Manager’s office. Berger, a co-organizer of the event, is a local artist who participated for four years in the Lowell Artwalk and suggested that Chelmsford should have an artwalk of its own. Berger won the popular vote for her Mill Girls exhibit in the 2010 Lowell Artwalk.

The Winterfest Artwalk’s goal is to “enliven/bring interest to Chelmsford Center.” Window decorations are encouraged to reflect current or historical Chelmsford. Decorated storefronts will run from the down to the Candelite Quilt Shop on Main Street.

Dunn is thankful for all of the businesses that opened their shops to the artists and helped facilitate the event.

“Donna and I are very excited to be working with all these wonderful people,” she said.

For those who enjoy competition, the Winterfest Artwalk will also include an art contest, where residents can vote on what they believe is the best window setup. Resident voting will take place from Jan. 22 to 31, by hard-copy ballot at the following locations: Adams Library, Jessie’s Place, Chelmsford Gift & Card Shop, Harrington Wine & Liquors, and Chelmsford Copy & Secretarial Center. Winners of the Juried and Popular vote will receive a $250 cash reward.

Juried votes will be evaluated based on creativity, beauty, representation of Chelmsford, as well as a variety of other factors. Michael Lally, Executive Director of the Whistler House Museum of Art in Lowell will act as judge for the juried vote.

Awards will be announced the evening of Feb. 3 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the Chelmsford Public Library’s Winterfest Kick-off event. The library’s kick-off will also include activities, food, drink, and the live music of blues band Kid Pinky and His Restless Knights.

Make sure to walk downtown in January to view the art before it’s too late: window displays will be dismantled by Feb. 19.