Residents Get to Experience Art in the Park

Last Saturday, Dan Press sat out on the Commons and watched his daughter paint. Every August around this time of year for the last six years he's been doing the same thing.

He enjoys watching his children, in this case Alana, show off their creative side. After all, that's what Art in the Park allows those in attendance to do. And after 12 years, the event continues to be a staple of the community.

"It's a great event," Press said. "It gives the kids a chance to be more creative and adults a chance to look back at their more creative days. And what's really neat, is every year you can see the kids' art progress; it's nice to see."

As for Winchester resident Nancy Hsu-Law and her children, they've been stopping by the event for the last three years. Hsu-Law and her husband happened to drive by the Commons one year as it was taking place. They stopped to look around, and have been coming ever since.

"We love this event," Hsu-Law said. "It's a combination of the market with music and entertainment, plus it's outdoors. It's different than any other arts and craft park."

Along with the live music and weekly farmers market, the event also consisted of a pied potter, painting in the park, cut paper, cd painting, a clay table, an artist painting the scenery and various tables where local artists were selling their work.

The event that consistently saw the largest crowds was at the pied potter's table. Rick Hamelin sat by his pottery wheel and crafted various clay pieces, while talking to the crowd about the history of pottery.

"It's a pretty informal conversation," Hamelin said. "We talk back and forth and whatever people have questions about, I'll answer them."

Hamelin, who's been doing this for 36 years, was surprised to learn that Winchester had a history of brick making and clay mines, which by now, are long gone. But this was one of his more enjoyable areas to visit.

"This is a beautiful town and with the farmers market, it's awesome," Hamelin said. "The people were real nice and friendly. I definitely would like to come back."

And that was the general consensus throughout the event. It's a day that as it approaches, residents look forward to, and once it passes, they begin counting the days until it makes its return.

"It's a great way to share talents and ideas," said Denise Konicek who's been helping out at the festival for the past nine years. "If you think of a town as a piece of fabric, events like this strengthen the fibers of the community. It makes for a stronger community. This is one of my favorite things to do all year."

For more photos be sure to go to WinchesterPatch on Facebook.