OCTOBER 13TH HARVESTFEST ON MAPLEWOOD’S SPRINGFIELD AVENUE WILL FEATURE PUMPKINS PAINTED BY NOTED LOCAL ARTIST BAHIYYAH SING

Works by local artist Bahiyyah Sing have been displayed at the Newark Museum, the Swain Gallery in Plainfield and at the Congressional Building in Washington, D.C. On Saturday, October 13^th, however, Sing’s focus will be pumpkin painting at Maplewood’s fourth annual HarvestFest on the grounds of the Hilton Branch Library at 1688 Springfield Avenue between Tuscan and Oakland Roads.

Sing will do a painting demonstration with several large pumpkins at HarvestFest. She and other student volunteers will also be assisting the children in a Children’s Pumpkin Painting Workshop, co-sponsored by Inspirational Dance at the Bette White Dance Center (1634 Springfield Avenue).

The pumpkin painting workshop on October 13^th is a highlight of the month-long series of activities and events hosted and sponsored by the businesses and restaurants of Maplewood’s Springfield Avenue District. The Springfield Avenue Partnership has been joined again this year by Walgreens to present HarvestFest, which will also feature an iPad giveaway in addition to fun for the whole family including food, music, entertainment, activities for the kids and more.

Born in 1993 in the city of Newark, Bahiyyah Sing was always inspired by different cultures in an artistic way.  Throughout her childhood she wanted to express herself creatively so she chose art to lead the way.  During her time in high school she gained and absorbed an acute attraction to African Fine Art.  She then became so captured by art she took Advanced Placement Art Classes during her junior and senior years and later was inducted into the NAHS (National Honor Society).  She also won the Mercy Hamberg Scholarship Award in her senior year. 

Eager to do anything with art, she started to produce many pieces from portraits, landscapes, sculptures, stage backdrops, mixed media and many more.  She was encouraged to put a piece called “In Pieces” in the “2011 Congressional Arts Show”, where she won the 1st Place Mixed Media and 1st Place Overall categories.  The piece was featured at the Newark Museum for one week and transferred to the Congressional building for one year where she had the opportunity to meet Congressman Donald Payne.

She enrolled at duCret School of Art to advance her craft and continues to enter shows and competitions to further her dreams. For her sophomore/junior year at duCret she is currently interning at To Be Continued Book Store in Metuchen, New Jersey, and Express Yourself Studios and Astah’s Fire Art Gallery on Maplewood’s Springfield Avenue, where her artwork “In Pieces” is currently on display. 

For more HarvestFest information including a complete list of upcoming HarvestFest events and activities visit SpringfieldAvenue.com or follow the Springfield Avenue Partnership on Facebook.