Art In The Park
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It’s been 45 years since Plymouth resident Dianne Quinn asked a few of her friends to join her in an outdoor art fair and painting exhibition in Kellogg Park.
How things have changed. This year, Art In The Park marks 45 years of success and has grown into a three-day celebration featuring more than 400 artists from 32 states and Canada and drawing nearly 300,000 attendees to the heart of downtown Plymouth.
Art In The Park will fill the streets of downtown beginning tomorrow, July 11, through Sunday, July 13. The award-winning event has received wide recognition, noted owner and Director Raychel Rork, who has managed the exhibition since her mother, Quinn, retired. The Plymouth exhibition has been chosen as "Best Local Event" by the Detroit Free Press; Voted "The Best of Detroit" by HOUR Detroit Magazine; named one of the "Gems of the Great Lakes" by AAA Magazine, and ranked as one of the Best Shows in America by Sunshine Artist Magazine.
Rork, now the owner and director of the event, said the show would feature a wide variety of original, handcrafted work - including painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber, glass, woodwork, photography, folk art and other mediums again this year as downtown Plymouth is transformed into a vibrant outdoor gallery. Visitors can enjoy the art along with live performances, interactive experiences, and a food lineup. Hours this year are 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Highlights of the exhibition this year include live art experiences; a massive 40-foot LEGO display, featuring custom-built Jurassic Park scenes; a giant Jurassic Park-themed chalk mural, and the traditional Living Mural where live models are painted into scenes from Jurassic Park. As has become a tradition, an interactive kids' mural will be painted by children in the park and donated to the Michigan Humane Society.
The event also features more than 90 young artist-entrepreneurs (ages 7-18) exhibiting and selling their own work in Kellogg Park. Crazy Craig, a stunt juggler, will perform on his unicycle and CometDancerr (sic), a pro hula hoop artist, will provide entertaining stunts.
My Adventure Theater, an interactive children’s show, will return to Kellogg Park when children become part of the play, and George Tait, The Human Statue, will perform street illusions and magic on Main Street. Live music from Roots Vibrations, a reggae band, and viral percussionist Deon Forrest will perform Saturday from 6 until 7 p.m.
Admission to the event is free, although parking fees are collected by local civic groups and donated to various charities, benefiting the community. A convenient round-trip shuttle runs all weekend from Schoolcraft College in Livonia. The fee is $8 round trip; children 12 and younger ride free in air-conditioned vehicles, which feature restrooms and accommodations for strollers and purchases.
