ArtBeat festival puts on a green face for 2008
Serious societal issues wouldn't seem to mix well with a lazy summer day. But on July 18 and 19, people can indulge their consciences as they while away an afternoon in Davis Square where ArtBeat will paint the town green, bringing together architects, artists, and musicians in an eco-friendly celebration.
The plaza will swarm with colorful, outlandishly decorated bicycles, exhibits of local architectural innovations, a bike parade, music from local bands, and a man dressed as a tree. The festival is a natural for Somerville, a city that is home to a number of green initiatives, said Somerville Arts Council program director Rachel Strutt.
"A lot of stuff's already out there," she said.
Last summer's monster-themed bash displayed beastly art in the center of the plaza. This year, an exhibit of artfully decorated bicycles called "Different Spokes" will be on view. One has a fish-shaped carapace; one seats seven in a spider-like circle; another tows a canoe.
Kids will decorate bikes and helmets, then ride in a late-afternoon parade showing off the results of their work.
City health project Shape Up Somerville will hand out free walking maps and provide free valet bike parking, following the lead of Redbones restaurant, one of the sponsors, which has offered the service for years.
Apex Green Roofs, which worked on the new WGBH studios in Brighton, will have samples of plants it grows on roofs to absorb storm water and carbon dioxide, Strutt said.
Green community groups will also get into the game, backing up the aesthetic endeavors with information and science - often presented with a fun twist.
For example, Groundwork Somerville will have a food miles shuttle run, said executive director Jennifer Lawrence. Teams will choose 10 fruits and vegetables, then run back and forth dropping them into buckets placed to indicate how far away that particular food grew. Athletic ability aside, "if they choose food that's farther away, they lose," Lawrence said. .
The fledgling Sustainable Somerville Network will hold a scavenger hunt, awarding compact fluorescent light bulbs to people who can hunt down the answers to questions about what local organizations do.
"The point is to inform people about what sustainability is about," said Vanessa Rule, a network member and the chairwoman of Somerville Climate Action. That group's exhibit will include a picture of a tree with leaves that symbolize a person's pledge to make a difference.
Strutt said the festival receives no city funds, relying instead on donations. Attendees can buy ArtBeat dog tags at the event for $3.
As for the sustainability of the event itself, the council will stock the bike decoration table with supplies from previous events.
City environmental coordinator Vithal Deshpande said the area would have temporary recycling bins, foreshadowing new, permanent bins that should be installed in Davis by September.
Strutt framed the musical entertainment as a green element, too. No one will have to get on a plane to perform, she pointed out.
"Our talent is all local - it's like buying local produce," she said of Latin band Los Nitidos, rapper Akrobatik, teen hip-hoppers from Save Our Somerville, the Sunsetters singers, and the like.
Though local organizations have always participated in ArtBeat, with the green theme, "this year I think it's better integrated," Strutt said.
"It's not just art, it's culture," Strutt said. "It would be great if we could be the Cultural Council . . . [it] would sound more inclusive." 