The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) opened its doors again this weekend for the University of Rochester’s Clothesline Arts Festival. This event has been an annual tradition at the Centennial Sculpture Park right outside the MAG for the last 62 years. Initially organized with less than 100 artists showing their work on clothes lines and fences, this festival has attracted over 500 artists from across the nation.
The park was decorated with colorful tents where artists proudly displayed their works. Each tent was a story within itself — a display of skill, creativity, and years of experience.
Piche Design, a unique custom creation art store owned by Chuck Peashy, had one of the most interesting tents: an eye-catching, old setting with lamps shaped like musical instruments. “People come to me with objects that belonged to their long-gone loved ones, and I make beautiful items out of those for them. It is, indeed, rewarding,” said Peashy.
Jill Schiller started doodling (涂鸦) when she was very young. Her hobby gave way to a series of super cool modern designs. She now draws with Swedish weaving techniques on scarves, carpets, bags, and T-shirts in her tent. Schiller believes that it is evidently a great method of expressing creativity and emotion.
George Banagis’ tent, which presented watercolor and pen and ink pieces, had a variety of options. His complicated pen and ink illustrations were available in the original full-size versions, which were made after weeks of effort, and also small, affordable postcards, notepads, and other souvenirs. Visitors loved this inexpensive form of art and flooded inside to buy.
Visitors also experienced all seven continents in one tent, Tatarzyn Photography. From penguins lined up on an Antarctic coastline to swans and wandering African elephants, Ted Tatarzyn has traveled all around the world to catch these moments of amazing creatures with a camera. “This is actually my second career,” said Tatarzyn, who interestingly worked at Kodak for many years before its shutdown. He then started touring around the world for the pictures.
Strolling across the little artistic showcases is a learning experience that every student should take advantage of. And Clothesline had many other stories to tell.
6. What was the Clothesline Arts Festival most probably named after at first?
A.The hosting place of the festival. | B.The diverse artists joining the event. |
C.The unique way of displaying works. | D.The cloths and various materials used. |
7. What do we know about Piche Design?
A.It focuses on the musical instrument design. | B.It helps people recall their loved ones. |
C.It repairs valuable things for people. | D.It mainly sells classical furniture. |
8. What do Jill Schiller’s and George Banagis’ tents have in common?
A.They are both about art drawings with strong personal styles. |
B.They are both popular among university students. |
C.They both display products with local cultures. |
D.They are both about inexpensive paintings. |
9. What is the main topic of the tent Tatarzyn Photography?
A.Travel experience sharing. | B.Artistic creativity training. |
C.Professional camera skill teaching. | D.Animal photos displaying. |
10. What is the purpose of the text?
A.To remember a 62-year-old tradition. | B.To recommend some excellent artists. |
C.To advertise a secondhand market. | D.To introduce a special artistic festival. |