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The sixth annual Freedom Fest will provide a myriad of things to see and hear at Marion Court Room and the surrounding area on Friday.
This year's festival boasts a diverse musical lineup thanks to intense scouting by event producer Tony Kirchner and a partnership with Philadelphia's WXPN-FM.
WXPN recently began broadcasting in the Lancaster, Harrisburg and York areas (FM 88.7 and 99.7) and Kirchner saw an opportunity to connect Freedom Fest with the growing station.
"I couldn't contact (WXPN) before because they weren't local," Kirchner said. "When they started playing here, I approached them.
"The station fit best in the multiple genres I was trying to get for Freedom Fest," he said.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will headline the event. The Mint, Darcie Miner and Slimfit are three of the eleven other acts scheduled to play throughout the day.
There will be two stages: one on Marion Street and one on the premises of Marion Court Room.
In addition to the numerous musical acts, Freedom Fest has added a new artistic component."I envisioned it being more than just a rock concert," Kirchner said.
This vision lead to a partnership with Creative House of Lancaster (CHL) and Lancaster Arts and resulted in 30 artists signing up to display their work during the festival.
"This is a total community effort," CHL member Jennifer McMorris said.
While it has only existed for a year, CHL has managed to bring unity and excitement back to the art scene in Lancaster. Almost 70 people attended its June meeting.
"It has been a steady progression," McMorris said. "The Lancaster art scene is finally getting the recognition it deserves."
Since Freedom Fest occurs on First Friday this year, Kirchner wanted to emphasize local art galleries and businesses.
"We want to interact and engage people from various businesses," Kirchner said. "We are trying to network better through events."
Artists will have tents and displays lining Marion Street, which will be closed for the event. All types of art and design will be represented.
(767) (739) (468) (294) (104) (69) (46) (11) (8) (6) (6) (6) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (3) (3) (2) (2) (2) (2)Kate Chen of Reading began making her own clothes while performing with a band a few years ago.
"I would go to thrift shops and garage sales and make costumes for the band," Chen said.
This hobby evolved into the trade of clothing redesign.
Chen takes old clothing items and creates everything from shirts and pants to skirts and dresses from them. Much of her clothing is in the punk and Victorian styles, she said.
"I make everything," Chen said. "I even take prom dresses and wedding dresses and make them into completely different pieces."
"It's alternative-type clothes," Chen said. "Like Urban Outfitters or Betsey Johnson."
Chen will be bringing a whole rack of merchandise to Freedom Fest. Her items range in cost from $10 to $50.
Fellow artist Heather Reist will be bringing her jewelry designs to Freedom Fest.
While taking a class at Millersville, Reist said, she realized her passion for making jewelry.
She specializes in metalsmithing and makes mostly stained-glass pendants that can be worn as earrings or necklaces.
Reist also sells her merchandise on the online site Etsy, which is "like Ebay for handmade crafts," she said. Her store, Lulu's Muse, just opened on Etsy this past month.
Reist will bring a variety of items to Freedom Fest ranging in cost from $15 to $45.
"Supporting local Lancaster activities is great," Reist said. "There is so much to offer downtown."
Matt Deterior's MySpace page doesn't give many clues as to what type of art he specializes in. To him, this is the biggest compliment.
"People try too hard to pigeonhole artists," Deterior said. "I make art for me. I'm not looking to fit into a box."
Deterior creates a variety of artwork from screen-printed T-shirts to sculptures to stamps.
Many of Deterior's items feature a cartoon bird which he has dubbed "Hatchling."
"I know of three people who have tattoos of (the bird)," Deterior said. "People have also asked me to design tattoos for them."
Whatever type of art, Deterior's main goal is to have it seen and supported. A native of Reading, Deterior has been disappointed with the city's support of the arts.
"People always complain that there is nothing going on and that this is a dead city," Deterior said. "But the ones who were complaining weren't doing anything to fix the problem."
He created an activist group called Reading, We Have a Problem to try and repopularize his city's art scene.
"Lancaster has been good to us," Deterior said. "It's great and very responsive. That's why we travel half an hour to get there."
Deterior hopes his group's presence in Lancaster will bring awareness to its cause.
"If you make things happen, people will latch onto it," Deterior said. "I'm throwing out a lifeline."
Reading, We Have a Problem includes many different types of people — everyone from teachers to graffiti artists, Deterior said.
"Any movement, no one did it alone. It's done in groups," Deterior said. "Artists think they can take on the world by themselves and win, but we can work in groups to better the community."
Deterior will bring this group mentality to Freedom Fest. He will sell small items ranging in cost from $1 to $25, as well as larger, more expensive art pieces.
Deterior hopes to bring Lancaster's enthusiasm for the arts back to Reading.
"If Reading can get half the support Lancaster gets, I'll be happy," Deterior said.
•••
Freedom Fest 2008 Music LineUp:
3:35 p.m. - The Sleeping World
4:10 p.m. - The April Skies
4:45 p.m. - The Stinging Nettles
5:20 p.m. - The Mint
5:55 p.m. - Clayton Mars Project
6:30 p.m. - Darcie Miner
7:05 p.m. - Kheris
7:40 p.m. - Fooling April
8:15 p.m. - Uncle Skip
8:50 p.m. - Slimfit
9:25 p.m. - Barrel of Wolves
10:00 p.m. - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Freedom Fest, Fri., 3 p.m.-midnight, Marion Courtroom, 7 Marion Court, $8, 399-1970.
E-mail: lfreeman@lnpnews.com
