Smith Park, located in the Twin Cities, gets ready to host a Celbration of Life. Greg Barron and the fair's director discuss what's on the agenda for this next celebration. Included in the festivities are a number of dance and theater groups, natural and old-time food stands, and a folk art extravaganza.
DICK: Well, there's a group of people, mainly the Smith Park Business Association, who have a desire to acquaint people from the Twin Cities with this area of town, as there's quite a bit of development going on. And they've taken it on themselves to do something that I think is kind of interesting. They're diverting their regular advertising dollars into being events-oriented and they're sponsoring artistic events in the park. This summer, there was the first National Craftsmen's Festival held in Smith Park.
SPEAKER: Many of our listeners will recall that we broadcast live from there and did a number of features on that. That was, in fact, an exciting event. What are some of the things going to be taking places?
DICK: Well, this event-- the last event was primarily a statement in the visual arts. This event will incorporate both the visual arts and performing arts. And it's sort of a mixed media celebration, including dance, music, and theater. But around the perimeter of the park-- and I should mention that the city has given us the streets surrounding the park again, so the streets will be for people. But around the perimeter of the park will be displays in folk art technique.
For example, we'll have some folks out there, a blacksmith and some people working in leather, quilting, weaving. There'll be a lot of food, natural food and old fashioned foods, available. There'll be stained glass work and people making ice cream and cheese, some furniture makers, pottery. But primarily, the stress will be on demonstration. So people will be able to experience a sort of a visual experience seeing technique going on in different folk art and craft techniques.
SPEAKER: I notice one thing here is candle making and I suppose then there will be people out there actually in the process of making different kinds of candles so that the process itself can be seen.
DICK: So this is something that will be happening all day long around the perimeter of the park. Now in addition to that, the dance, music, and theater will be happening both in the interior of the park and in the streets. And we have a regular schedule of both Saturday and Sunday of continuous events, which will be participated in by many of the performing arts groups from the Twin Cities.
SPEAKER: Why don't you run down a few of the groups who are going to be there?
DICK: Well, at the moment, we have scheduled performances by the Minnesota Ensemble Theater, Variety Hall Theater, Guthrie Theater Outreach Program, The Powderhorn Puppet Theater, Children's Theater African folk Dance Company, Theater in the Round, Nancy Hauser Dance Company, Savino's Minnesota Ballet, The Brescian Quartet from the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
SPEAKER: It's quite a list.
DICK: And a real exciting group from Waterloo, Iowa called the Phillips Wonders Gospel Rock Group.
SPEAKER: What's that?
DICK: That's a family group. They're originally from Waterloo, but some of the members of the family live in Milwaukee and some in Minneapolis, but mom and dad are still down in Waterloo. And they get together three or four times a year. And so we're really happy. They're all going to get together and drive up here and they'll have four performances during the festival.
SPEAKER: Beautiful.
DICK: In addition, there's a barbershop group called The Night Howls, The Chamber Chorale and the Bach Society.
SPEAKER: The Night Howls.
DICK: The Trinidad Steel Drummers and some other people that will just be doing spontaneous things. I think there's going to be a few people here doing mime and some street actors who will just take upon their own when there's all in the action to just do things.
SPEAKER: All right. So all these things are going to be going on continuously both--
DICK: Saturday 11:00 to 7:00 and Sunday from 11:00 to 6:00.
SPEAKER: And does it cost anything to come?
DICK: No, it's completely free to the public. The only thing is if you'd like to buy some of these old-fashioned foods or natural foods, which are being prepared by the commonplace restaurant and by peoples bakery in Minneapolis, these folks are involved in making natural and organically contented foods.
SPEAKER: Well, it sounds great, Dick. Thanks very much for giving us some of your time and telling us what's going on. I can say this, the park itself is a beautiful place to be on a sunny afternoon and should the sun be shining, it'll be like nothing else. I guarantee that. Thanks again, Dick.
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