Enjoy a night of light during a time of darkness at the 10th annual Winter HooPla at The Art Garden on Elm Street on Feb. 28.
While the event was originally scheduled for this Saturday, organizers have postponed it to next weekend due to poor weather forecasts. From 6-8 p.m., visitors can see how artists have transformed the railyard into a lit art exhibition, with displays including large butterflies, chrysalises, a kraken and boat, puppet shows, projected animations and more. The Art Garden co-directors Laura Iveson and Jane Wegscheider said there is not one specific theme to the show, but multiple ideas and metaphors developed through collaborations among the artists.
“There’s lots of metaphors floating around,” Wegscheider said.
Iveson added that many of the displays for the event were sparked from one artist’s ideas, then built on and expanded by other artists.
“That’s what will happen. Somebody will have an idea, and then other people will chime in with what they’re thinking and what their experience has been and so it turns into something very unique,” Iveson said. “It isn’t just one person’s vision. It ends up being impacted by many hands and ideas.”
For example, ideas about butterflies symbolizing transformation inspired Phyllis Labanowski to lead a group in creating large paper chrysalises. Playing with different materials, they learned they could use willow wood, which is bendy and strong, to support large pieces, and allow the artists to “now dream even bigger.”
“What I love about The Art Garden is that’s what happens here. People jumped on that idea and then I ran with it,” Labanowski said. “It is a strong metaphor, and it’s a powerful metaphor in these times. This caterpillar goes in and builds this thing around itself and it almost becomes cellular soup and it emerges into something different, and we are wondering that about the landscape of our country at this time. Who will we be on the other side?”
The event is about exploring creativity as well as creating light, hope, and joy during dark times — both the physical darkness of winter and the current political climate.
“This is very much an event that is meant to bring people out and connect people, and just be joyful,” Iveson said. “It’s really hard to justify it when there’s so much going on in the world … Showing up, it’s an investment not in just your community, but the wider world.”
She joked that she does not enjoy the cold, so it’s also a good reason for her, and others who feel similarly about the winter months, to get outside and enjoy time with their friends and neighbors.
The event is sponsored by the Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont/Hawley, Colrain, Conway, Heath, Plainfield, Rowe and Shelburne cultural councils, as well as the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.
Wegscheider said the grants have allowed The Art Garden to provide some participating artists with small stipends for their work. Creating displays for the Winter HooPla takes hundreds of hours, even with plenty of volunteers helping.
Iveson estimates 50 people have assisted with creating art for the show, including professional artists, those who create just for their own enjoyment, and those who may not even consider themselves artists. Wegscheider said that at The Art Garden, all are invited to create and explore their artistic side.
“Some of the people who participate would not call themselves artists, but they, and their ideas, are treated with the same respect,” Wegscheider said. “They work together with people who do consider themselves artists, and all of a sudden it’s like ‘maybe I am an artist.'”
Parking in The Art Garden’s Elm Street lot is limited to those with mobility impairments. Those who are able to walk are encouraged to park at the Salmon Falls Gallery on Ashfield Street, or find street parking in the village and walk up to the railyard. Parking is also available at The Mill at Shelburne Falls on Conway Street.
Iveson said paths throughout the railyard will be well-lit for the event, which is set up and taken down all in one weekend. Children are welcome, but should be accompanied by an adult.
The event is free to attend, and The Art Garden will be accepting donations to support the event and other programming.
For more information, visit theartgarden.org.