Seventh grade Sarah Heresniak didn’t think her Saturday would be much fun. The middle school girl with a penchant for writing had signed up to do face painting at the fourth annual Arts Alive festival at the Hylton Performance Center in Manassas. What she discovered was a world of art, including the kinds of literary activities she enjoys.
“I saw the sign,” she said, referring to the schedule that listed self-publishing as one of the panel discussions sponsored by Write by the Rails, the Prince William Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club. “I said, ‘ooooh! I have to go there!’”’
Another of the literary workshops was run by author and former CNN Editor John DeDakis. DeDakis spoke to authors and aspiring authors about getting an agent and marketing books.
“What impressed me was the friendliness of the people and how smart they are. Very engaging,” he said.
The more than 1,000 visitors enjoyed a full range of the arts, from visual to music to dance, everything from classical music and ballet, to jazz and belly dancing. Quilters, painters and photographers displayed inside, while, adjacent to the outside stage, food and children’s art activities were available throughout the sun-filled day. Visitors enjoyed perusing jewelry, pottery and refurbished furniture. Costumed characters and mimes roamed the premises, helping to ensure each area of the arts was well represented.
For Kathy McLaren of Cabin Branch Quilters and Stone House Quilters, it was about using material to make art.
“I’ve always been passionate about textiles,” she said. “I’ve been playing with material since I was a little kid.”
Exquisite quilts were hung in the main lobby and upstairs gallery.
“I like meeting people who actually do artwork,” said Sharon Ross, photographer with the Manassas Warrenton Camera Club. The club displayed members’ photographs taken from all over the world.
Jim Gallagher of the Prince William Art Society uses his talent to make unusual items into art. His table was filled with scuba tanks painted in seascapes and topped with lamp shades, creating colorful, decorative lighting.
The annual event was the result of a partnership between the Prince William County Arts Council, the Hylton Performance Center and the Prince William County Parks Authority. The point of Arts Alive, according to Janet LaFleur, Prince William County’s Community Centers and Park Manager, is to bring arts into the community.
“People of all ages can come out and enjoy something here,” she said. “I like the opportunity to see people come together…all the happy faces.”
“The Prince William Arts Council is a melting pot of the great artistic talent living right here in our own back yard,” said Sheyna Burt, President of the Council. “Arts Alive celebrates and debuts the best of the best in our area.”
In total, Arts Alive featured more than 30 indoor and outdoor events, workshops, displays, performances and children’s activities. Performances included those by Gainesville Ballet, Showcase Dance, NOVA Youth Ballet, Asaph Dance Ensemble, Woodbridge Dance, Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra, Youth Orchestras of Prince William, Prince William Community Band, Manassas Chorale, Celebration Singers, New Dominion Choraliers, Osbourn High School Guitar Ensemble, Woodbridge Community Choir, Ben Lomond Community Center Dancers, Dance, Etc., Woodbridge Music, Castaways Repertory Theater, Bull Run Cloggers, Lou Rosgen, Magnificent Belly Dance, Old Bridge Quartet, Gainesville Middle School Drama Club, Creative and Performing Arts Center Sankofa Singers, Dumfries Elementary School Chorus, Shenandoah Sounds, Write by Rails writers, Coles Elementary Step Team, a Jazz Vocalist Master Class lead by Donna Brown, a Tango Master Class and Introduction by Quintango, Pied Piper Theater and the Bull Run and Unitarian Universalists Mime Troupe.
Fine art displays included those by the Center for the Arts at the Candy Factory, Manassas Warrenton Camera Club, Cabin Branch Quilters, Stone House Quilters Guild and Prince William Art Society.
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