Letter To The Editor: Wickford Art Festival

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI - From Francie Christophersen, 56th Wickford Art Festival Director:

The results are in! The 56th Wickford Art Festival outdid all expectations. Over the past 35 years, I have been honored to be the Wickford Art Festival Director 22 times. I have had some great festivals but I can honestly state that this year’s (56th ) Festival results are the best I have ever experienced. Once again we had record crowds that thoroughly enjoyed this year’s festival. Eighty percent of the artists’ sales tax reports are in, and we have reached a record number. At this time artists have reported a total of $314,864.00 in sales for the 1817 pieces of art work that sold during the festival.

So at this time, I would like to thank the many people involved for helping to make this year’s festival so outstanding.

To our Gold Member Sponsors, BankRI and BankNewport, and our Silver Member Sponsors, Washington Trust and Fuller Frame and Gallery, our sincere thanks in supporting the art festival this year and helping to bring it to the community. We would also like to thank the local merchants who were so loyal with their support of the festival program.

A special thank you to Gregg’s Restaurant, Carriage Inn Restaurant, Dave’s Market, Wal-Mart, and Stop and Shop, for their donations which helped to supply the food for the artist’s reception. Thank you also to Home Depot, Jerry’s Artarama, N.K. Staples, and South Country Tourism for their donations which helped to supply, hardware supplies, banners and bags.

Thank you to the North Kingstown Police Department, officers kept the enormous crowds safe the entire weekend with a welcoming smile. To the NKFD, who are always there when you need them. Appreciation goes out to the Town of North Kingstown: The Town Clerk’s Office, Parks and Rec, and Public Works. They experience a larger work load during this busy time and we thank them for their help and support.

To the homeowners and merchants in the village who welcome the visiting artists and art enthusiasts, I would like to express my gratitude for your understanding and patience. Thank you to the Rotary Club, who took care of parking lots and shuttle service. Thank you to The First Baptist Church for the delicious food, and providing the Kid’s Corner.

My special thanks and gratitude also goes out to the hard working volunteers who stepped forward to work with me to help make this event run smoothly. To the volunteers who contributed endless hours on several committees, months and days prior to the festival, and also during the weekend of the festival, I would like to acknowledge: Sandi King, Linda King. Janet Tobin, Julia Tobin, Marianne Guarnieri, Christin Casey, Lillian
Dilluvio, Jill Long, Helen Patience, Gerry Grabowski, Cindy Klein, Doreen Picone, Judith Anderson, Linda Sanfilippo, Guy Nattlie, Kevin DeAngelis and Gary Carlson.

And many thanks to the worker bees who came out on the weekend of the festival to volunteer their time: Lorraine Hynes, Joan Hertel, Carol Beatrice, Richard Kelly, Barbara DeCesare, Pat Newell, Ann Bianchi, Lori Jeremiah, Shar Hyland, Judy Salvadore, Sandy Salvadore, Steve Patience, George Salter, Jane Robbins, Ann German, Marjorie Ball, Linda Riggs, Colleen Gilmartin, Kathy McCabe, Cathy Kaiser, Lynn McCarron, Denise Boisvert, Chris Webb, John Pitocco, Mike Masi, and Jeanine Anderson.

"Working together works.” It is because of all of you, who gave your time and energy to the festival, that we had such a successful event.

I hope everyone will be looking forward to next year’s 57th Wickford Art Festival, July 13 and 14, 2019.

Image via Patch Graphic Archive