The 2016 spark! Mesa’s Festival of Creativity returns to the Mesa Arts Center this Friday, March 18th and Saturday, March 19th from noon-10 p.m.
MAC is excited to present a variety of performances, installations, live music and art-making, hands-on experiences, demonstrations, a variety of foods, a beer and wine garden and best of all admission is free! This wonderful festival is perfect for the entire family and is free, presented by the Mesa Arts Center offering a diverse variety of arts! According to MAC, “spark! will celebrate the imaginative spark in all of us, by showcasing Arizona artists and performers as well as internationally renowned touring and visual artists.”
This year spark! features an incredible selection of both local and national artists who have created fascinating interactive art installations from varied disciples including Christopher Janney, Iregular, Purring Tiger, Sensebellum, Owen Fritts, Jessica Rajko, Joe O’Connell, and Elizabeth Hellstern. We are excited for the return of Sensatorium with The Sensatorium, “Enter an interactive environment under a large geodesic dome and play with four different technology-driven art experiences, including the very popular Sandboxes of Life featured at last year’s spark!” Also new addition to this year’s festival is artist duo Purring Tiger, who have created several installations including Popup! Street Installations, will project visuals on exterior walls at the MAC “that respond to passersby who interject themselves into the projected visuals”.
There are many great activities for families to enjoy including making a clay artifact with air dry clay with artist Danielle Wood and rearrange the ceramic “coral” pieces in her art installation, Amalgamation. Also Kaleidoscope Fusion by Kyllan Maney, create a 4x4 piece of fused beads and Contribute to the large-scale Kaleidoscope Fusion mural. Live art demonstrations from artists, OTHER and MASSIVart who will create works of art using aerosol paint or check out chalk art from Jason Botkin. Also famed mural artist El Mac was commissioned to paint a new mural located in the Mesa Contemporary Art Museum Courtyard on the elevator shaft and has been busy painting over the last several days. MAC offers Art Studios Family Samplers giving attendees the opportunity to try out studio art classes with short 1 hour workshops for $5-10, more information available online.
Showcasing live music from great local bands throughout the festival must see headlining acts include 76th Street and The Love Me Nots will perform on Friday while Vintage Wednesday and Dry River Yacht Club will perform on Saturday. Also there will be performances from Purring Tiger a dance performance titled "Mizaru", choreographer Elizabeth Johnson presents Community Dance with this years theme of Transitions, Comedy Juggling from James Reid and Cyphers with explore urban culture through movement and art that push the boundaries.
Be sure to visit Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum showcasing five wonderful exhibitions in their galleries. The Store, Mesa Arts Center’s Artists’ Cooperative Gallery will also be open and will feature artist demonstrations throughout the festival. The Mesa Arts Center is located in the heart of downtown Mesa at 1 E. Main Street. For more information about MAC or the spark! festival visit mesaartscenter.com. * All images courtesy of Mesa Arts Center and artists.
