x
  1. Home
  2.  News
  3.  Local News

Village of Warwick's Artist in Residence Front Porch Summer Arts Program concludes

| 05 Sep 2017 | 03:55
    Photo by Roger Gavan Mayor Michael Newhard, Village of Warwick's Artist in Residence Linda Mensch, Conscious Fork owner Kim Gabelmann, local artists and a group of Front Porch kids strike a pose for the camera on the last day of their artwork display. Front from left, Olivia Link, 13, Alexa Keys, 10, Alix Regans, 8, and her sister Sophie, 10. Rear from left, local artists Stephanie Roth and Clair Gilliam, Mayor Michael Newhard, Zoe Lake, 11, Kim Gabelmann and Linda Mensch.
    Photo by Roger Gavan Mayor Michael Newhard, Village of Warwick's Artist in Residence Linda Mensch, Conscious Fork owner Kim Gabelmann, local artists and a group of Front Porch kids strike a pose for the camera on the last day of their artwork display. Front from left, Olivia Link, 13, Alexa Keys, 10, Alix Regans, 8, and her sister Sophie, 10. Rear from left, local artists Stephanie Roth and Clair Gilliam, Mayor Michael Newhard, Zoe Lake, 11, Kim Gabelmann and Linda Mensch.

WARWICK — Village of Warwick's Artist in Residence Linda Mensch was pleased with the public response to her curated show of artwork by children in the summer Front Porch Art Program. The artwork was on display throughout the month of August at the Conscious Fork Restaurant on Railroad Avenue.
Chosen by the Warwick Mayor's Office to be this year's Artist in Residence, Mensch is the founder of The Moving Company Dance School.
She created the annual Front Porch Summer Arts Program 20 years ago for kids ages eight to teen to explore creativity through a variety of forms including art-making, movement and storytelling. A highlight of the program for the kids is the weekly art collaborations with local artists at their studios.
"Thanks to the generosity of Kim Gabelmann and Conscious Fork," said Mensch, "an exhibition of all the work created by the Front Porch Kids has been on display for the month of August. It's been especially exciting and inspiring for them to be able to share their projects with the public."
Curiosity leads to expressionMensch and her husband Glenn Carter have been the village's Artists in Residence for the past two years.
"One of the desires during this appointment," said Mayor Michael Newhard, "is to create greater awareness of the Village of Warwick through the arts. Linda's Front Porch art program does just that. The combination of art instruction while using the village as a place to explore gives these young artists a greater sense of not only the place they live but the natural curiosity that leads to artistic expression.
"What a great experience not only to make art but also to visit local studios tucked in our village neighborhoods," the mayor added. "This develops a level of awareness that within our community are artists, cultural and creative activities that are readily accessible and that make the place we live unique."
Essential informationOne-day workshops, based on the popular summer art program, are planned for the school year.
For additional information about The Front Porch Arts Program and the Moving Company Dance School, visit www.movcodance.com.
- Roger Gavan