Lewisburg, WV (WVDN) – Carnegie Hall’s 38th Taste of Our Towns (TOOT) fundraiser is quickly approaching. The festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 12, from 12 – 4 p.m. in downtown Lewisburg, West Virginia. This year, Carnegie Hall’s Teaching Artist will be spread throughout the festival alongside the food vendors with exhibits and demonstrations.
“In the last two years, we introduced artist demonstrations and vendor tents in an “Art Block” on Church Street to showcase a selection of our our teaching artists and to really let the community know more about the different kinds of family friendly programming we offer in our classes and workshops” states Education Director Harmony Flora. “Now we want to spread that fun, creative energy to the whole festival,” she adds.
The newly integrated Art Block will feature multiple artist demonstrations in three locations throughout the day, including pottery wheel demos by Sean O’Connell and Kelsie Tyson, kids’ clay hand-building with Amie Durrman, woodturning projects by the WVWA, leather tooling by Luke Davis, basket weaving by Kathy Talley and loom weaving by the Fiber Arts Network, wool felting by Debbie Rapp, glass mosaic design by Peggy Owens, watercolor painting by Jeanne Brenneman, woodburning home décor by Jennifer Spencer, printmaking with Thomas Ruggiero, and jewelry making with Connie Gottshall.
This year’s Art Block vendors include Jessie Thornton (photo prints), Kelsie Tyson (ceramics), Peggy Owens (glass mosaics), Luke Davis (leather goods), Connie Gottshall (custom jewelry), Kathy Talley (heirloom baskets), Theresa Filzen (stained glass), Greenbrier Artists (miniature paintings and prints), Sean O’Connell (mugs and vases), Jennifer Spencer (wood burn patterned home decor), Debbie Rapp (wool fibers), Thomas Ruggiero (prints), and the West Virginia Woodturners Association (WVWA) (wooden bowls/pens/ornaments).
The Kids’ Zone will also feature special live performances of a marionette circus presented by performance artist Linda Zimmer, free, fall themed needle felting projects with Karen Leland and two separate coloring-book style kid’s murals created by Sandra Schmocker.
The 2024 Taste of Our Town (TOOT) Title Sponsor is The Schoolhouse Hotel. The 2024 TOOT Beer Garden Sponsor is The American Beer Company.
For more information, please visit www.carnegiehallwv.org or call (304) 645-7917.
Carnegie Hall WV is a nonprofit organization supported by individual contributions, grants, and fundraising efforts such as TOOT and The Carnegie Hall Gala. The Hall is located at 611 Church Street, Lewisburg, WV. For more information, please call 304.645.7917 or visit www.carnegiehallwv.org.
