Music and art galore during Brighton Fine Arts festival
It was no surprise to see Downtown Brighton packed with community members, newcomers and artists this weekend during the 32nd annual Brighton Fine Arts and Acoustic Music Festival.
Local vendors, acoustic bands and musicians and a variety of artists showcasing their artwork took over the downtown for the free event.
From canvas art to recycled items made into jewelry, community members were able to see it all.
"It's always a great place to appreciate the arts in all forms," said Pam McConeghy, Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.
Marilyn Grinnel was one of the artists who have returned to the festival the past five years.
Her canvas is silk shirts, scarves, shawls and wraps.
"I really enjoy to hand paint on silk with fabric paint," Grinnel said.
Grinnel lives on a lake in Brighton and each year she hosts a summer camp for a group of friends that travel from New York.
"I needed to include a camp craft for all of us to do," Grinnel said.
She decided she would offer painting, thinking it would be the perfect solution to a summer camp craft activity.
"We all enjoyed it and it became a full-time (hobby) for me," Grinnel said. "I just really like to paint and can do it from my home."
Her kitchen table is where she gains inspiration.
She looks out her window onto the lake and paints whatever she sees.
"I paint flowers, water, nature, birds and insects on the ladies' attire," she explained. "It's a lot of fun to be creative with it."
In order for her designs to hold the best, she starts with a coat of paint and decides what design to paint based on what colors would look the best.
"It's really just up in the air after the coat is on," Grinnel said.
Grinnel painted around 100 pieces to sell during this year's fine arts festival.
This year, she included painted pieces of lingerie from Hush Intimate Apparel in Brighton.
"The owner is great and devoted to the arts so I painted pieces for them to put on display," Grinnel said, noting Hush was one of her sponsors for the festival.
Most of the artists were local, but others came from across the state to participate.
"The weather was just great so we are thrilled with how it went," said Sophia Freni, Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce civic events coordinator. "We picked the best of the best artists to come and show off their art work for the community to see, and I know everyone was pleased."
If art wasn't what patrons came for, it was for the company, food, shopping and music framing the downtown.
There were four acoustic stages with a variety of musicians and bands that played.
"We weren't sure how the crowd would react to the music aspect of the event when we first added it a few years back, but people love it and it just really adds so much to the ambiance of the place," McConeghy said. "It was another success."
Contact Livingston Daily education reporter Abby Welsh at 517-552-2848 or at awelsh@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @abby_welshLD.