By Josie Roberts
Lewiston, NY – As the summer winds down to a close, so does Artpark's 30th anniversary celebration. Tuesday night, Artpark will conclude its "Tuesday in the Park" series. The performing arts venue said the free concerts drew more than 60,000 people throughout the summer -- triple the number of last year. WBFO's Josie Roberts joined the crowd last Tuesday.
"Well, it's a pleasure to be with you tonight at Artpark," Blues singer Kelley Hunt proclaimed as she welcomed a crowd of more than 4,000 people to last week's "Tuesday in the Park." Artpark president George Osborne said when the series started five years ago, crowds were one-tenth that size.
"Unbelievable," Osborne said. "The biggest crowd we've ever had at Artpark ever was for the Blood, Sweat and Tears night."
For the first time in Artpark's 30-year history, it had to close its doors when David Clayton-Thomas performed. At 12,000 people, the outdoor amphitheater was maxed out.
"Well, this summer have we been blessed? More than blessed," Osborne said. "It never rains on Tuesday night but it rains every other night of the week so I'd say we're blessed."
With thousands of people in the audience, each had their own reason for coming to the show -- the talented musicians, the sunsets over the gorge, the family atmosphere. Beside the show on stage, activities abound. Take the ArtEl, a 30-year-old wooden structure behind the amphitheater that looks like a cross between a barn and a boardwalk. On Tuesdays it teems with kids doing art experiments, face painting and playing dress-up. Marsha Miss, an Artpark employee, pointed across the ArtEl with paint-splattered hands.
"We have a place up there that's definitely a Kodak moment, it's called costume closet and the kids get to dress up," Miss said. "We have everything from sports figures to the wedding dress which of course the girls love. We even have the bouquets."
Down the stairs of the ArtEl and behind the consession stands reside a colony of artists. Thirteen-year-old Christopher Ferraro from West Seneca describes the scene.
"There's artists in residence over there, but not a lot of people know because it looks like a restricted area," Christopher said. "But they sell oragami and hemp bracelets and all this stuff. It's just amazing."
Last Tuesday was Christopher's first time at Artpark. He said it was like going to an art gallery, but the artists were there to talk about their work, too.
"I think it's great that people will take the time to talk to you about what they do, how they do it," Christopher said. "They make a living off of being creative and having fun so I think it's great to be here."
This was Bill Wilson's first summer displaying work at Artpark as an artist in residence. He said was impressed with the whole experience -- the music, the crowds, the response to his craft. Just then, two women got off the trolley from the parking lot and peered over one of his sculptures. Wilson said it never hurts to nonchalantly expose the general public to art.
"Typically, you're not going to get too many people to venture into an art gallery. But if it's just sort of out in the public areas and people are getting exposed to it, they enjoy it," Wilson said.
Even with all of the art enrichment areas that surround the amphitheater, "Tuesday in the Park" is ultimately about the music and the people. Jackie Falsetti from Lewiston has been to every Tuesday concert this summer.
"It's the talent," Falsetti said. "It's like a little homecoming for everybody, we meet our friends and our neighbors, we mix and mingle."
Falsetti said her favorite night was the Blood, Sweat and Tears concert and its bumper to bumper crowds. She can't wait to see what kind of national acts Artpark brings in next summer.
"It's like Thursday at the Square, this is Tuesday in Lewiston."
Tonight (8/31) is the final Tuesday in the Park. The free show, which features classic pop band Switch, begins at 6:30.