Life can be dramatic, it can be sad, fun, silly, and colorful life can be a picture painted a million different ways. The SUNY Fredonia Music Industry Club will prove the statement true as the group will host its second annual Life is Art festival in the Barker Common in downtown Fredonia on Saturday.
Last year, the festival raised over $1,200 in profit for the not-for-profit, Music is Art, an organization founded in 2004 by The Goo Goo Doll's bassist and Buffalo native, Robby Takac. Approximately 500 people attended the inaugural event and the group hopes this year will far surpass previous attendance and donations.
"This year the event is a lot larger," Vice President of Music Industry Club at SUNY Fredonia Noelle Panepento said. "We have a lot more students involved in the event - playing in bands, selling artwork, and just involved in our Music Industry Club. Since the festival is not on Easter weekend this year, and due to its success last year, we are expecting a better turnout and hoping to raise more for Music is Art."
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The Life is Art festival displays local art to the public, incorporating such forms as live music, poetry, comedy, media, and dance, to name a few. The fun-filled event will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and includes live musical performances and acts of other varieties, food, vendors, games and raffles.
vendors, games and raffles.
"Most of the performers, with the exception of one or two bands, are students of SUNY Fredonia," Panepento said. "However, Life is Art has been sponsored by several businesses in the community. There will be several vendors at the event from the local community as well."
This year's event is sponsored by Tops, JLM Sound, Wing City Grille, The Syndicate, and Movieplex 8 Cinemas among others.
Interspersed throughout the festival are performances by poets, comedians, improv acts, and solo acts, and there will also be an appearance by Fredonia's Dance Team.
"We mainly raise proceeds at the event through food sales, the Chinese auction, and games/contests, including the 'Pie your Professor' and pie eating contests," Panepento noted. "There is no cover charge. We have received donations from businesses for the Chinese auction and that is really what helps it to be successful and profitable. Some proceeds are made from selling vendor spots, but most of it comes from people participating in our event."
During the current week, the Fredonia Music Industry Club is also selling Life is Art sunglasses on campus to raise more money. They will also be sold at the event. There will be an area for monetary donations at the festival for those who choose to donate. However, after the event, people can always donate money to the Music is Art foundation by going to their website musicisart.org.
The Buffalo-based foundation aims to promote and explore music's impact on the cultural, social, and educational aspects of local communities. Music is Art also collects musical instruments in an effort to help restore music programs in schools, such as the Fredonia High School which recently experienced budget cuts.
The Life is Art schedule for Saturday is as follows:10 a.m. - Chinese auction opens; 10:50 - Amoeba Amoeba (band); 11:40 - The Spice Shop (band); noon - "Pie your Professor" opens; 12:30 p.m. - On Horses (band); 1:20 p.m. - Fynian's Wake (band); 2:10 p.m. - Dave and Marissa (band); 3 p.m. - Alberto Alaska (band), pie eating contest; 3:50 p.m. - Wise Medicine (band); 4:50 p.m. - The Blank Shots (band); 5:50 p.m. - Mr. Boneless (band); 7 p.m. - Gonculator (band).
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