Organizers of the inaugural “Riverdale Art Fest” are asking residents to mark Sunday, Sept. 24, in their calendars as they prepare to launch their first art festival, which they describe as a thrilling component of the Riverdale Y Sunday Market, where delicious food offerings are already a weekly staple.

 

Designed to introduce talented Riverdale artists to their community and vice versa, organizers said the Riverdale Art Fest will fill the entire center aisle of the market, held in the Riverdale Temple parking lot at 4545 Independence Avenue (near 246th Street) in the Riverdale section of The Bronx, and will feature what the organizers describe as Riverdale artists’ extraordinary work in painting, photography, drawing, watercolor, spin art, acrylics, three-dimensional art, and more.

 

“Riverdale is a creative community, and we want to emphasize that creativity and give artists a chance to interact with their audience,” said Eric Kollin, co-director of the Riverdale Art Fest. “We see the Riverdale Art Fest as a way to call attention to the great creativity in Riverdale and The Bronx art scene as a whole. Also, obviously, it will promote incredibly talented local artists.”

 

According to the organizers, the Riverdale Art Fest will also present interactive demonstrations in creativity that will, in essence, bring the artists’ studios to the public, not only giving the Riverdale community a chance to enjoy what was described as the extraordinary creative talent that lies within its borders, but to watch the artistic process in real time. They said there will also be a children’s section to engage young people in creative activities.

 

“As a center of our community, the Riverdale Y Sunday Market is proud and excited to host the first annual Riverdale Art Fest,” said Shira Silverman, the market’s director and Art Fest co-director. “It’s a way to enrich our offerings for the entire community and, in plain language to ‘up the vibe’ by lending texture to our traditional weekly market.”

 

The Riverdale Art Fest will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Sunday, Sept. 24, extending the Sunday Market’s regular hours. Organizers said there will also be live music to accompany the artwork. Artists should note that there are still spaces available. To participate in the Riverdale Art Festival, contact the organizers at riverdaleartfest@gmail.com.