Melanie and the Boys.
Historic Owego Marketplace is stepping into spring with Owego’s First Friday Art Walk Passport Season. The May Passport to all things Owego brings even more art, entertainment and dining options. After last year’s popular passport season, the merchant’s association has turned up the volume with more entertainment, art and activities.
The Art Walk starts with music and art on the Front Street Deck, and concludes with the Art Walk Party, including a prize drawing using a stamped Passport turned for the chance to win art and gift certificates. All art receptions, performances, and demonstrations are free and open to the public.
On the Front Street Deck (200 Front St.), from 6 to 8 p.m., the Historic Owego Marketplace presents Melanie and The Boys. This talented group plays a unique mix of music that is best described as Americana. The band performs songs from the greatest American musical traditions, including Bluegrass, Blues, Rock and Folk. They bring energy, enthusiasm and a playful sense of fun that is undeniably infectious.
Chris Knickerbocker.
Artist Chris Knickerbocker is also featured on the Deck. Chris creates sculptural assemblages from discarded oddities. If you’re the type of person who sees the world just a little bit differently, Chris’s whimsical sculptures are sure to strike a chord.
The second of three performances of “Traveling Art a la Parc”, a celebration of personal and unique artistic journeys of the performers will take place on the Owego Riverwalk along Front Street starting at 6:15 p.m. Tina Christina-Price and Jeffrey R. Wahl are accomplished artists who have pooled their talents to create a unique site specific multi-disciplinary outdoor performance, with a cast of seven to ten abled and disabled dancers and musicians. By exploring, creating and performing meaningful pieces of work, performers are encouraged to embrace who they are, the challenges they have overcome, and celebrate the uniqueness of others and their abilities.
The following are the many shops, stores, galleries and restaurants open to welcome you to beautiful historic Owego.
Art Palate (59 North Ave.) 5 to 8 p.m. – Features artist Maren Michaels demonstrating how to create recycled bike tire earrings. Learn how to upcycle broken bicycle inner tubes into lightweight, funky jewelry.
Artisan’s Townhouse (42 Lake St.) 5 to 8 p.m. – Presents “All That is Sacred” nature photography by Gerri Wiley.
Black Cat Gallery (190 Front St.) 5 to 8 p.m. – Live Music by The Triton Trio. The trio is the combination of the husband-wife duet “Tom and Marie” and R.J. Sieger performing acoustic covers of popular music mostly from the 60’s and 70’s. Together the Triton Trio put outs a sound that is sure to delight and entertain.
Carol’s Coffee and Art Bar (177 Front St.) 5 to 8 p.m. – Presents Rita Christensen’s abstract, floral paintings and musician Don Baragiano on acoustic guitar.
Gallery Forty-One (41 Lake St.) 6 to 8 p.m. – Opening night reception for the show, “Upstate New York’s Beasts in Residence” by Johanna Husband and Jodie Mangor, a collection of delightful watercolor paintings by Johanna and Jodie. Special musical guest will be Janelle Daddona.
Katie’s Kreations (188 Front St.) 5 to 8 p.m. – Features Tim’s Junk Art. Local artist Tim Jackson shows his wildly popular creations of metal art made with upcycled material and limited only by his imagination.
Las Chicas Taqueria (208 Front St.) 6 to 8 p.m. – Local musician and acoustic guitarist Jon Davis and Friends will be performing.
Lily Style Loft (32 Lake St.) 5 to 8 p.m. – No matter the season, a scarf can add the perfect touch to your outfit. Don’t miss the demonstration “20 Ways to Tie Your Spring Scarves”
The Cellar Restaurant (196 Front St.) 6 to 8 p.m. – Offers a demo making their latest spring-inspired artisanal cocktail- crafted specially for Art Walk with a free cocktail recipe to try at home.
The Early Owego Antique Center (43-45 Lake St.) 6 to 8 p.m. – Owego Antique Center Gary Mattscheck, noted collector of early cylinder records and talking machines, will demonstrate and comment on these fascinating primitive recordings. Actual wax and composite cylinders by Edison, Columbia and others will be played on vintage hand-wound machines.
The Owego Kitchen (13 Lake St.) 5 to 8 p.m. – Art Show featuring the Owego Middle School Art Department. A dinner menu is being served, BYOB. From 6 to 8:30 p.m. there will be live music by Daphne Braden.
Tioga Arts Council (179 Front St.) 5 to 8 p.m. – The Tioga Arts Council will feature the exhibition Modern Mythmakers: Works by Newark Valley and Owego art students. The upstairs studios will also be open to visitors.
Original’s Bar / Lounge and Art Walk Party (25 Lake St.) 6 to 10 p.m. – Presents Indie recording artist Mike Davis playing solo beginning at 6 p.m., and joined by ULTRA VIBE at 7 p.m. Ultra Vibe mixes sounds of jazz, funk, blues and soul with the intent of creating music possessing a feeling or “vibe” to move the listeners body and mind to. Ultra Vibe’s brand of music is rooted in the spirit of jazz improvisation, making every performance unique. The repertoire of music ranges from interpretations and new twists on blues, jazz and soul classics to original music that embraces the spirit of the groove.
At 8:00 p.m. the Art Walk Party kicks into full gear. The public is invited to meet the artists, musicians and merchants, and let them thank you for supporting Historic Owego Marketplace and Owego’s First Friday Art Walk. The evening will be capped off with the Passport prize drawing for art, gift certificates and more at 8:30 p.m.
