Happy 10th Anniversary stART on the Street!!

A photo of the Fall Show taken from the stART website

stART on the Street has been taking place since 2002. One would be inclined to think it's hard to believe that a little art show that first took place on Main Street in Worcester 10 years back has turned into pretty much the premiere venue for artist and crafters in the area and beyond!!

However! Knowing many of the people involved in making stART  a success every year, it's very little surprise that little art show has become one of the most highly praised events to attend and one of the most coveted for local artists and artisans to take part in every year. The Spring Show on Green Street almost filled up immediately with people participating and despite stART having to use their rain date for the first time in event history, it was still a success and very highly attended.

What has made the show a success and very popular with artists is the fact that the people involved LISTEN and take people's suggestions on how to improve the show very seriously.

My first experience with stART on the Street was back in 2005 when I took part in a show called Spring Art at the Station. I had picked up a sign up sheet at CC Lowell. I believe at the time the show was being hosted by several artists groups. Including stART. But on a whim I signed up for it.

I was 29 at the time. I had been working at the Art Museum for a couple years. I had nothing published at that point and I was working hard to break out of my introverted shell and get more exposure for my work. I had a few small art shows at that time but nothing monumental.

A show at Worcester's Union Station intrigued me. Especially since it had been only five years since they renovated it to it's original glory. The following year after such a great experience with the show at Union Station I took part in the first year they hosted what was to become the flagship show on Park Avenue.

A lot has happened in seven years since that initial show both for me and for stART itself. I now have eight more books published which I sell along with my prints and small works and a wife who is now selling her own original fun household items at the shows now.

And stART itself just seems to get better every year. And this year it's their 10th Anniversary. So you know the boys and girls who put stART together have something big planned for the Fall Show that stARTed it all.

Syd and I have our application signed and mailed in. Like I said. Looking at how fast the Spring show filled up, we weren't taking any chances.

But with all that said, Happy Anniversary stART on the Street!! Here's to the 10 years working up to this and here's to 10 years more!!