SUWANEE - Suwanee is planning what is bill as "one groovy arts festival, man!"<br />
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Arts in the Park returns to Town Center Park for the fourth year Saturday, May 17, with a retro theme of Peace, Love & Arts in the Park. The park will be filled from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. with more than 75 exhibiting artists, tie-dyed t-shirts, look-alike performers from the 1970s, and a "happy, energetic vibe."<br />
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Presented by the North Gwinnett Arts Association (NGAA) and sponsored by Nalley Automotive, Arts in the Park celebrates art in all its wonderful forms. Exhibiting artists' works, all of which have been juried, include jewelry, painting, pottery, woodworking, glass, photography, iron, multimedia, and more. Many artists will demonstrate their work onsite as well.<br />
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In addition to artists and their artwork, the festival will offer performance art. The Imperial OPA group, who performed at the festival two years ago, will return with high-wire and human pyramid stunts. Others will perform music from the 1970s in a variety of genres, including country and bluegrass. A DJ will be on hand as will strolling performers and impersonators.<br />
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Once again this year, the festival will host a chalk walk competition for children and adults. The $10/person registration is available at suwaneeartsinthepark.com or at the festival. Area businesses also may sponsor a chalk re-creation of their logo for $50. <br />
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The Suwanee Public Arts Commission is sponsoring a sidewalk painting by Florida street artist Michael V. LasCasas, to be unveiled between the Town Center stage and Buford Highway during the festival. This artwork, says NGAA member Chris DeJaegher, is to be "an ethereal, very colorful, 70s-ish type drawing" that will incorporate the bubbles of Suwanee's new logo and appear to be 3D when viewed through a camera lens. The acrylic sidewalk painting is designed to last about one year.<br />
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For additional information, visit suwaneeartsinthepark.com. <br />
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Arts in the Park Entertainment Schedule<br />
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11 am DJ: Sounds of the 70s<br />
11:30 am Sarah Ling, Fiddle Performance<br />
Noon Hank Bird, Country Music<br />
12:30-2:30 pm The Imperial OPA (Performance & Mingle)<br />
1:30 pm Crying Wolf Bluegrass Duo<br />
2:15 pm DJ: Sounds of the 70s<br />
2:30 pm Susan Chambers Dance Company<br />
3:15 pm DJ: Sounds of the 70s<br />
4:30 pm Crying Wolf Bluegrass Duo<br />
5 pm Awards Presentation<br />
5:30 pm DJ: Sounds of the 70s<br />
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