Bay Area

Spring Fling & Art Stroll readies for return to ‘The Point’

Published

2 years ago

March 21, 2023

Oakland Post

Steve Zwetsch of Cigar Box Kitchen Guitars will sell art collaborations such as this one for a good cause at the Spring Fling & Art Stroll. (Photo contributed)

By Kathy Chouteau

The Richmond Standard

Signaling that better weather is around the corner, Point Richmond’s “Spring Fling & Art Stroll” is returning to downtown Sat., April 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Held the day before Easter, the second annual event will see Park Place closed to traffic as children’s activities (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.), a DJ (11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), dancing, fashion show, street vendors, Easter Bonnet Contest and an egg hunt get underway.

“Wear a hat and enter the Easter Bonnet Contest, activities and Easter Egg Hunt for kids, new round of outdoor art banners, browse sidewalk art vendors, view exhibitions in six local galleries, dine in local restaurants and more,” said organizers.

One artist who will be showcasing his collaborative artwork at the event is Steve Zwetsch of Cigar Box Kitchen Guitars. Zwetsch—who has been profiled as one of the Standard’s “Fave Things”—will preview his “one-of-a-kind” art creations with nine of 13 local artists on cigar box guitars and ukuleles as part of the Local Artist Guitar Series.

Zwetsch said that the artists “painted, collaged or otherwise decorated” the guitars and ukuleles he made, with some of the materials—such as a folding chess board and drawer pulls—found at the El Cerrito Recycling Center, where he is currently the artist in residence. He said the works collectively took six to eight weeks to complete.

The following artists worked with Zwetsch on guitars/ukes that will be on display at the Spring Fling & Art Stroll, with “a portion of the proceeds [going] to local charities chosen by consensus of the artists,” per Zwetsch: Kaci Smith; Brian Mcgilloway; Laura Thiessen; Torreyanna Barley; Malik Seneferu; Dee Bell; Marvin Mann; Chris Morgan; and Gail Zwetsch.

He said 13 additional cigar box guitars are also currently being made as part of this series.

“This project has been really interesting and fun,” said Zwetsch about the endeavor. “Meeting all these talented artists and collaborating on one-of-a-kind pieces of playable art has been very fulfilling. I look forward to continuing this project through the rest of 2023 and into 2024.”

The Spring Fling & Art Stroll is hosted by a partnership among Arts of Point Richmond, Point Richmond Neighborhood Council and PRAM. Learn more at https://www.artsofpointrichmond.com/events/second-annual-spring-art-stroll.