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Bethesda Row’s Arts and Entertainment District Host 22nd Annual Bethesda Row Arts Festival

Originally Published by East City Art on 10/07/2019 On Saturday, October 12, Bethesda Row’s Arts and Entertainment District will transform into a massive outdoor art gallery featuring ceramics, drawing, fiber, glass, printmaking, jewelry, metalwork, painting,…

Originally Published by East City Art on 10/07/2019

On Saturday, October 12, Bethesda Row’s Arts and Entertainment District will transform into a massive outdoor art gallery featuring ceramics, drawing, fiber, glass, printmaking, jewelry, metalwork, painting, photography, sculpture, and other disciples from over 200 carefully jury-selected artists around the country. The 22nd Annual Bethesda Row Arts Festival, which has been recognized as one of the most important art events in the country by Art Fair Sourcebook and Sunshine Artists will run from Saturday, October 12 (11am-6pm) to Sunday, October 13, (10am-5pm) hosting nearly 50,000 art-loving patrons from around the area.

This year’s festival will have an injection of energy from its new Co-Directors Jon Gann and Jim Taglauer. They have increased the standards of artist acceptance, facilitating a discerning jury selection process. Because of this, 45% of the artists are new to the festival and many new to exhibiting in the region. For loyal visitors, this means a return of their favorites with the addition of countless new art to experience. In addition, because both Gann and Taglauer come from the film festival world, they will provide a more curated experience than past years, with an emphasis on technology, storytelling and personal connections.

“Art is incredibly personal, both for the artists who create it and the collectors who display it in their homes. Too often today, people purchase mass-produced home decor at discount stores without knowing anything about the process or the person who created it. Art festivals like this allow people to bring meaning to the items that make their space a home,” says Gann, Festival Co-Director.

This personal connection will be especially nurtured this year for the inaugural stARTer gallery, a cluster of tents that will take over Bethesda Lane, featuring local, emerging artists showcasing their works to first-time and novice art collectors. To assist with the process, student art curators from local universities will be on-hand to ensure connections with the artists are personal and meaningful. In an effort to inspire art-appreciation and creation at a young age, children are encouraged to participate in hands-on family programming such as spin art and other crafts.

Read the full article at www.eastcityart.com