What do you get when you pair up an entire day filled with artistry on multiple fronts from actual art to live music, from artisanal food to craft beverages with one of the quirkiest, rapid-fire entertainment concepts known to man to cap off that day? You get the wildly popular New Territory Arts Association’s 12th Annual street celebration known as Artoberfest, capped off for the second straight year by a night of PechaKucha presentations from a diverse set of performers.
The popular NTAA Artoberfest, is partnering for the second year with PechaKucha Night to headline the festival and add to its lineup of art, live music, food, craft brews and wines. It’s an all out, rain-or-shine, family-friendly event and it makes a triumphant return on Saturday, September 15th from noon until 11 pm, in the Benton Harbor Arts District at the corner of 5th and Park Streets behind The Livery Microbrewery.
Lana DeFrancesco is PechaKucha Organizer and she contends, “The arts and local community grows stronger when we can merge the day’s experience of art, music and food at the festival with the fun format of PechaKucha, where we then hear from those same artists and creative thinkers.”
DeFrancesco adds, “We aren’t all artists, so when we learn about an artist’s process, we understand more. When we learn about one’s experience, we empathize more. When we learn of someone’s creative journey, we’re more invested. The opportunity to relate and connect locally is what excites me most.” She tells us, “Artoberfest is a fundraiser that we love to participate in. NTAA supports arts programs, scholarships and projects in the Benton Harbor Arts District, which is critical to keep well-funded if we hope to continue the arts & cultural opportunities in our area.”
Admission to the festival grounds is free from noon to 4 pm, although a donation of $5 is suggested. After 4 pm, adult admission is $5 each and is free for anyone under the age of 21.
The food and drink will not disappoint with the liquid and culinary art of local craft beers, wines, cider, and pizza from The Livery, plus savory options from Nosh Village, with Chef Ryan fusing French influence with the Asian cooking, Lake & Farmer, who use clean, additive-free ingredients and regional flavors to transform long loved classics, and Dialo’s Café Catering, specializing in soul food and BBQ.
Lead Artoberfest sponsors are Silver Beach Pizza, 1st Source Bank, The Livery, and PechaKucha Night-St. Joseph/Benton Harbor. Additional support comes from @Properties, Brooks Architectural, Edgewater Bank, Greenspan Construction, Modern Dentistry, Quarternote Lofts, Re-Imagine, Thayer Inc., Vail Rubber and Vincent Lofts.
ARTOBERFEST ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
- Noon-11pm: Up to 20 booths will display regional artists’ glasswork, paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, fiber, and repurposed art. Art enthusiasts are encouraged to explore the local galleries and studios in the district, too.
- Noon-8pm: The Artoberfest Main Stage will offer a variety of musical entertainment.
- Noon: The Deep Fried Pickle Project – A quirky jug band with homemade instruments.
- 1:30: St. Joe Jack – 20-year-old pyschedelic singer/songwriter/guitarist.
- 3:00pm: Sankofa – Homegrown funk, soul, and jazz from Benton Harbor.
- 4:30pm: Beer Hippies – Burn Em’ rock and roll from Michigan City.
- 6:00pm: Lipstick Jodi – Indie alt-pop out of Grand Rapids.
- 8:30pm: PechaKucha Night at Artoberfest will present a series of talks designed to elicit laughter, tears and pondering. Nine talented locals will share their passions using 20 slides, each automatically shown for 20 seconds. The slides will be projected on a large outdoor screen hung from The Livery. Limited seating will be set up on The Livery open space, but showgoers are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. Entrance to PechaKucha Night is $5 for anyone 21 years and older. The presentation lineup will feature:
- Stephen Appleton, Scottish Food: More than just bloody haggis
- Anna Russo Sieber, ARS Longa, Vita, Brevis – “Art is long, life is short”
- Andrew Benedict Fisher, The Human Lighthouse: A Beacon of Connection
- Random Slides Improv with Andy Sawyer & Guest
- Andy Wible, The Enigma of Happiness
- Adrieanne Alane White, JUMP!
- Paul Mow, Tenor, A life Illuminated by the Arts
- Larie Koek, Ascend
PECHAKUCHA FACTS:
PechaKucha 20×20 is a simple presentation format where 20 images are shown for 20 seconds each, advancing automatically.
These events are hosted 4 times a year by the Whirlpool Creatives Association, Wightman and Associates, Inc, Krasl Art Center, Box Factory for the Arts.
Many cities often lack spaces where creative people can share their work, and so Pecha Kucha Nights are about exposing the hidden creativity in a city. Pecha Kucha Nights are organized by passionate and enthusiastic volunteers of any creative field.
Pecha Kucha Night, conceived by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham in Tokyo, is an international phenomenon taking place regularly in over 900 cities around the world, and attended by more than 250,000 people annually. Pecha Kucha Night has been described as the world’s biggest physical social network. The key to the success is the simple format where presenters only get 20 images shown for 20 seconds each — this gives anyone a chance to present their recent project or passion.
Updates about Artoberfest and other Arts District events are available at info@newterritoryarts.org or by visiting the New Territory Arts Association on Facebook.
The New Territory Arts Association is a 501(c)(3) grassroots organization dedicated to the revitalization of Benton Harbor through the arts. Founded in 1998, it has been responsible for many Benton Harbor Arts District events and arts-related community programming.
