Paint Off - 31 Artists, 60 Minutes, 31 Masterpieces

We would like to thank everyone who made the first annual Ithaca Festival Paint-off a huge success on Friday, March 30^th.  A very special thanks to the artists who created masterpieces in just 60 minutes:  Luis Alvarez, William Benson, Brody Parker Burroughs, Ryan Curtis, Jim DeGraff,  Aara Edwards, Monica Franciscus, Pamela Gilbert, Nerys Gregory, Jenny Kenkel, Ann Krajewski, Patrice Lemmon, Carlton Manzano, Ed Marion, Paul McMillan, Nari Mistry, Stephen Pink, Jay Potter, Peter Schlough, Mary Michael Shelley, Wendy Skinner, Allen Crittenden “Denny” Smith, Christi Sobel, Paul Speight, Adam Swanson, Carrie Varney, Dave Walczak, Kendra Wells, Lucretia West, Matthew Wheeler, and Carl Whittaker. Also thanks to the event judges: Erica Fowler-Decatur, Dede Hatch, Laurel Guy and Carol Mallison, and to our sponsor: Ithaca Bakery & Collegetown Bagels, to our event hosts Dave Vieser & Geoff Dunn of WHCU News Talk 870, Samite Mulondo, Kenny Broadwell, BSI Sound and our silent auction donors. And also thank you to those who attended the event to support the festival and artists!  You make the Ithaca Festival happen every year.  The paintings were raffled off at the end of the evening, but will be on display at the old Night & Day space on the Ithaca Commons (135 The Commons) up through the Festival.  We’ve also produced wall calendars featuring the art created that night.  You can choose from either a 12-month or a 15-month version of the calendar from the zazzle.com web site.  We will also be posting video of the event shortly.  William Benson was also announced as the 2007 30^th Anniversary Ithaca Festival Artist.  The Festival art will be unveiled on May 1^st.