Sights Around Allentown

Who else out there went to Allentown this weekend?  I was there on Saturday, walked up and down Delaware, down every side street, wandered past every food post with their delicious smells (opted out of them in favor of a late lunch at The Anchor Bar) and experienced yet another year’s festivities.

I’ll get myself into trouble for saying this—though perhaps more of you will agree with me than I’d like to consider—but the artwork at this year’s Allentown was more than a little blah for me.  I feel like the festival’s moving into craftier fare than it has ever been known as; certainly there is more art out there than mere paintings ("nice pictures,” I feel I could hear people mumbling under their breath) and the traditional fare.  But I walked every step of those festival grounds and didn’t see much that excited or encouraged me to look further.  I feel horrible saying that, as the pedigree of the event has been its lasting glory.

Not to be a total grouch, there were a few tents that I thought had really creative and innovative work.  I’ve always loved photography more than watercolors, sculpture more than pottery.  I think my mom summed it up best when we spoke on the phone yesterday and she told me that she had picked up a couple things.  An abridged transcript:

Mom:  Yeah, we went to Allentown yesterday.
Me:  Yeah..........the sunshine was nice.
Mom:  I bought two things.
Me:  Oh.
Mom:  Guess what I bought.
Me:  A glass bowl and a ceramic bowl.  [Edit note:  Mom likes glass bowls.  She also likes ceramic bowls.]
Mom:  Two Sahlen’s hot dogs.  We bought two Sahlen’s hot dogs.  And they........were good.

So, on that note, take a peek at some photos that our Marie Walsh took of her visit to the Allentown Art Festival.

Posted by on 06/16 at 11:56 AM