For the fourth straight year, local and regional artists will meet in Downingtown to showcase their work. The Downingtown Fine Arts Festival will be held May 26 and 27 in the borough.
According to David Oleski, painter, organizer and director of the event, more than 30 exhibitors will be attending and feature both traditional and contemporary painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, sculpture, mixed media and jewelry.
The event is held in partnership with the Borough of Downingtown and Downingtown Main Street Association.
Oleski serves on the board of directors of the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show in Philadelphia. From there and other art shows around the country with which he is affiliated, he was able to draw artists to Downingtown. The assistant director for the Downingtown show is Steve Oliver who serves as the executive director of the Rittenhouse Square show. “It’s an ‘if you build it they will come’ idea.”
Many of the artists are including the Downingtown show in their tour of other outdoor festivals in the northeast region.
“Downingtown is my town,” said Oleski, “I believe the area can support arts awareness such as an outdoors arts festival like this and its early longevity of the event signifies the success of that theory.” He sees the festival and a way to connect the audience of Downingtown with local and regional artists and an opportunity for the artists to meet the borough and the people that live there.
In addition to the art, there will be food trucks and East Brandywine Brewing, which is adjacent to the event lot, will be open.
The Downingtown Fine Arts Festival is free and will be held rain or shine on Saturday, May 26, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, May 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival will be held in the parking lot at 202 E. Lancaster Ave. in the borough. For information on the Fine Arts Festival visit downingtownfinearts.com.
