MoorArts will host its annual holiday arts festival on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 1 to 4 p.m.
The event will feature an exhibition of student artwork from grades K-12 in Moorestown schools, live music and seasonal crafts for kids.
“It’s a multifaceted event following the Lions’ holiday parade,” said festival chair and MoorArts board member Georgean Wardzinski. “We’ve got visual art, quite a bit of elementary art and there is high-school photography and art as well, including ceramics and 3D.”
According to MoorArts’ website, the festival also gives young singers, musicians and dancers a venue to perform seasonal and original musical numbers.
“It is very engaging because there will be music happening, some live performances off and on during the three hours, as well as the ability for people to just come in after the holiday parade (noon to 2 p.m.), have their kids sit and play and work on a craft and go from there,” Wardzinski said.
”Some people just like to come in and see their child’s artwork, stay for a little bit and grab a craft and take the craft home, and that’s perfectly fine, too.”
The holiday arts festival – supported by the township’s department of parks and recreation – will be held on the third floor of the Church Street rec center. Theresa Miller, director of the department, is proud of its longstanding partnership with MoorArts over the years.
“We always try to incorporate the arts into our department, because recreation is for everyone and not only sports, but the arts are very important for the children and young adults who participate in this holiday art show,” she explained. ”And it gives the parents and their families an opportunity to come and see their artwork.”
Wardzinski is always impressed by the students’ work, considering how young they are.
“When you think about the fact that the oldest that probably anyone is going to be exhibiting is 18 – most of them probably aren’t even 18 yet – all the work is done by people under 18 and it is just amazing,” she noted.
“… Everybody sees art differently and how they adapt, but then seeing on the other end, the photography and paintings and even interesting ceramics of things that have been assignments …,” Wardzinski continued. “Every year I walk away going, ‘Wow.’”
MoorArts is an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to supporting the fine and performing arts in the community and schools. It hosts a variety of events throughout the year that are designed to broaden the arts experience for everyone.
“Arts in general – music and art – are international languages in essence,” Wardzinski pointed out. “We talk through music, we talk through visual arts as well, and anyone can enjoy them in different ways … The arts are a powerful aspect in our lives, and so this is just a nice opportunity for people to experience the arts.”
For more information on the holiday arts festival or MoorArts visit www.moorarts.org.
