Framed butterflies by John Mann of Insecta Etcetera. Mann will be one of the 95-plus artists at this year's Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival in East and West Parks on September 10 and 11. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH – The 28th annual Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival will take place this Saturday and Sunday – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., in East and West Parks in downtown Norwich.

The Festival will start at 10 a.m. with presenting awards to the 2022 Volunteer of the Year and the Colors Cape recipient for 2022.

The centerpiece of this free, two-day Festival is the art. Coloscape features over 90 creators displaying and selling their paintings, sculptures, fabric art, fine crafts, photography, and more. Professional artists come from all over the northeast to participate in what one calls “the best show in the region.”

Colorscape celebrates more than just visual arts. There will be live entertainment on three stages, the NBT Main Stage, Peggy’s Stage, and the Art Zone stage. Throughout the weekend, nationally and regionally recognized bands and solo performers emphasizing folks, blues, and rock will be performing, featuring Adam Erza Group, fan favorites the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, and Mark Sands/Realtime Dixieland Band. Drew Drake will be performing his much-admired poetry and spoken word.

The performance schedule for all the live acts can be on www.colorscape.org.

For hands-on activities, people of all ages can visit the Art Zone. Parents are invited to bring their children to the Kids’ Art Zone, pre-school through age 9, to participate in various art projects. For those ages 10 and up, visit the Golden Art Zone, sponsored by Golden Artist Colors. Additional family activities can be found in Nonprofit Row, featuring several area nonprofit agencies.

Steve Kopko has been selected by the Colorscape Board of Directors as the 2022 Volunteer of the Year. This award was established in 2012 in the memory of Susan Connelly, Colorscape’s first Volunteer Coordinator, who organized the festival’s volunteers from 1999 to 2011. Marilyn Kochersperger was the first recipient of this award in 2012. “Steve Kopko has volunteered for years behind the scenes at Mainstage, helping Ken Millet make sure that the Mainstage runs smoothly and that the music keeps playing,” shares Celeste Friend, executive director of Colorscape.

Preferred Mutual is being honored as the Colors Cape recipient for 2022. Colorscape awards its Colors Cape to a partner who strongly supports the Festival, year after year. The cape can be worn during the festival, and a plaque commemorating Preferred Mutual achievements will be presented.

"Our Colorscape Partner of the Year is Preferred Mutual - they have been big supporters of Colorscape for many years and recently helped us to purchase our big "CREATE!" banner that announces the place where children and adults can indulge their creative ambitions. Thank you,” said Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival Board President Melissa deCordova.

Recognized as one of the top 100 classic and contemporary craft shows in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine, Colorscape Chenango has been celebrating premier artists in downtown Norwich since 1995. This free, two-day festival in September features over 100 creators displaying and selling their paintings, sculptures, fabric art, fine crafts, photography, and more. Colorscape also offers nationally renowned musical performers, poetry and literary arts, food, and interactive art activities for all ages. The 2022 Colorscape will be held rain or shine on September 10-11 in East and West Parks in Norwich. The Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival is made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House.

– Information from Colorscape Chenango