The fog permeated the city as we made our way through the Inner Sunset. The previous day was just as hazy, today looked like it would be no different. But I was in good spirits because I knew that there was sunshine and fine art where we were headed.
“I don’t know. Even the Golden Gate Bridge is fogged over,” my wife Lucky commented. Sure enough- as soon as we crossed over to the Marin County side of the bridge, the sunshine welcomed us to Sausalito and its annual Art Festival.
For 55 years, the festival has grown in stature and quality, winning accolades from artists and collectors alike. It is now regarded by many as America’s leading outdoor fine art festival. This is no hollow title, considering this year’s festival boasted over 250 participants, from a competitive pool of 1000 applicants, selected by a panel of past festival winners. Local, national (hailing from 35 states) and international (numbering 15) artists are given the opportunity to exhibit and sell their crafts, not to mention compete for cash awards for “Best in Show” as judged by an independent panel of art professionals.
Wandering the expansive grounds of Marinship Park, live music from one of two stages set a happy tone as we saw impressive displays in a variety of media from plein air paintings to watercolored photographs, wood sculptures to fine jewelry. There were even displays that do not fit neatly in a category, including 10 foot tall “kinetic sculptures” made of brass and colored glass. Fronted by the bay on one side and framed by trees and mountains on the others, the festival’s setting was almost as beautiful as the displays. Plenty of amazing pieces would have made a beautiful addition to any home, but most were beyond the financial reach of mere students. Some were insanely priced- we found small postcard sized paintings priced at two fifty…not $2.50, but $250.00- but others would have been snatched up had we owned our own house and had discretionary funds at our disposal. Despite leaving the festival without purchases, we did not leave empty-handed. Seeing such an impressive display of talent and creativity made our “window shopping” experience thoroughly enjoyable. The best part was knowing that all proceeds went directly to local non-profit organizations. The festival spanned the three day Labor Day weekend, which afforded observers the opportunity to view over 20,000 original works of art. One could spend multiple days there and still not have a chance to see everything.
On weekends when the Art Festival isn’t being hosted, Sausalito is brimming with art galleries along Bridgeway, the city’s main strip. A leisurely stroll down Bridgeway took us past at least 8 different galleries interspersed among the boutiques and restaurants- all within a few blocks. As with the festival, the pieces in most of the galleries were priced well above our means. But there is a particularly interesting artist who does his work on the rocks across the street from the Venice Gourmet Deli. Bill Dan, also known as the Rockman, creates delicately balanced rock towers that seem to defy gravity. While you cannot purchase them (transporting them would be impossible), one can watch Dan in action as he creates these transient works on most weekends.
The Sausalito Art Festival is held annually every Labor Day weekend. While you will have to wait a year for the next one to roll around, the city itself is filled with opportunities to buy or just peruse the many offerings by local artists. And of course, the sunshine and rock art are always free!
Originally published: http://www.ucsf.edu/synapse/articles/2007/Sep/13/sausalito.html
No comments:
Post a Comment