Up & Coming Weekly

10 UCW NOVEMBER 4-10, 2009 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM One morning Claudia Swartz got a fl ash of inspiration. Given the success of the Blues showcases she helped develop and organize for the downtown library, she began to design an event that not only brought the people great music but great visual art as well. The seed that was planted in Swartz's mind that day blossomed into what we now know to be the Bohemian Arts and Music Festival. Due to her diligence and commitment in boosting the visibility of Fayetteville's eclectic and vibrant array of artists, the festival is now running into its fourth year. Swartz, also known as the harmonica-playing lead vocalist of Blues Enigma and CEO of BeatHeart Productions, has a strong connection to Fayetteville's arts and music scene. She also possesses a passionate urge to shine more light on the goldmine of artistry existing within our fair city. "There's a lot of people out there who do wonderful things, but they may not be exposed in the regular art galleries here...Cutting edge, not your usual hanging material," she said. The greatest aim of the Bohemian Festival, which will be held Nov. 15, is to fortify the bond between the community and its local artists. Swartz feels that local artists and musicians are integral to the reinvention of downtown Fayetteville. "If we want people downtown, if we want to have a true revitalization of downtown, they have got to get with more of the local artists and musicians." For Jane Casto, services manager for Headquarter Library, excitement is high as press releases go out and details are attended to, ensuring that this year's festival delivers the quality entertainment that has become associated with the library's functions. The festival has been well received and has excited library patrons as well. "We get people who call about events and people who come to all of the events...there is a lot of excitement... it's a little unusual, you don't think about this as something a library might do, but we're more than just books or information or computers. We're also a space where people can come to meet, to greet, to participate, to be enchanted, that's also part of our mission," said Casto. Casto remembers when Swartz fi rst approached her with the idea of the arts and music festival. "We started with the Blues Showcases and were successful at doing some of those, so then she had the idea of wanting to combine arts and music... so it seemed like a neat idea and since then it's been our mission to bring those possibilities together for people." This year all festivities will take place in library's Pate Room. Swartz divulged that a totally different ambiance will be created for the day, transforming the space completely "We're going to create a different little microcosm of art and music," she said. There is a wonderful mix of artists and musicians on the roster. Musicians include the legendary Bob Steele Band, acoustic blues crooner Chris Hurst, Kindred and Blues Enigma. Artist Jeff Coleman whom Swartz calls the "King of Surrealism" will be in attendance with his imaginative and stunning pieces. Greg Hathaway will showcase his works as well. Other featured visual artists include; potter Aaron Wallace, portrait artist and Arts ServicesDdirector for the Arts Council Dorothy 'Q' Finiello, and multimedia artist Govina Taylor. In addition to great music and stunning art, the crowd will be treated to other types of performance such as the sensual art of belly dance by Shadows of the Fire Middle Eastern Dance Troupe, and the collective improvisational groove of a drum circle. The experience would not be complete without a marketplace featuring everything from original paintings and sculptures to hand-crafted jewelry and beads. The festivities run from noon to 7 p.m. The event is free. For more information, please contact the Headquarters Library at 910-483-7727 ext 202. Bohemian Art Festival Takes Over Library by TAKEEMA HOFFMAN TAKEEMA HOFFMAN, Contributng Writer COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com 3006 Bragg Boulevard Fayetteville, NC 910-323-1791 YOUR FOOTBALL HEADQUARTERS FOR COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL AND RECREATION TEAMS YOUR FOOTBALL HEADQUARTERS FOR COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL AND RECREATION TEAMS YOUR FOOTBALL HEADQUARTERS FOR COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL AND RECREATION TEAMS YOUR FOOTBALL HEADQUARTERS FOR COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL AND RECREATION TEAMS Visit our Hope Mills Location, 5613 Rockfish Road. 910.609.1791 8FEOJHIUQSJDFCPUUMFPGXJOFt5VFTOJHIUNBSUJOJT )BJM'BSFXFMMTt$BMMGPS3FTFSWBUJPOTt8F$BUFS )BZ4U )JTUPSJD%PXOUPXO 678-8885 3BNTFZ4U /FYUUP.FUIPEJTU6OJWFSTJUZ 822-3590 0XOFS 0QFSBUFE Voted Fayetteville's Best Overall Restaurant Voted Fayetteville's Best Overall Restaurant Authentic Italian Cuisine Brick Fired NY Pizza Pierro's Late Night Patio Fri & Sat 10:30pm to 2:30 am Claudia Swartz

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