Small Stones Festival of the Arts kicks off Nov. 8

The public is invited to enjoy beautiful fine art painting and photography and an expanded music program at the 2019 Small Stones Festival of the Arts.

The second annual juried regional arts festival runs Nov. 8-16 at the Great Hall, One Grafton Common in Grafton. There is no fee to view the exhibit.

Festival exhibit hours are Nov. 9, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Nov. 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The music program continues until Nov. 16. The Small Stones Festival of the Arts is a collaboration of three arts organizations – Apple Tree Arts, Worcester County Camera Club and Blackstone Valley Art Association. The Friday, Nov. 8, 7:00 p.m. opening reception features the Kelly Clark Jazz Trio.

The festival’s Call for Art, an invitation to artists and photographs to submit their artwork in two categories – Fine Art Painting and Drawing and Fine Art Photography yielded 565 submissions. A panel of six independent jurors selected 144 submissions featuring artwork of 77 artists residing in communities in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Cash prizes will be awarded for first ($500), second ($250) and third ($100) place in both categories. Three Juror’s Choice awards will be awarded. This year exhibit attendees will vote for Popular Choice awards for each category.

The music program includes performances of ensemble groups during exhibit hours and two concerts the following weekend. Jan Barlow of Apple Tree Arts directs the Sutton Ukulele Strummers and the Flutist performers are led by Apple Tree Arts’ flute teacher Amy Carroll. A“ Night in Bollywood” features Din Check, the New England premier Bollywood band and a Bollywood dance workshop Friday Nov. 15, 6:00-9:30 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m. a theatrical, musical performance of Igor Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire du Soldat – A Soldier’s Tale” is presented by Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra’s chamber players and Apple Tree Arts’ actors. Tickets may be purchased for the concerts by calling Apple Tree Arts, 508-839-4286.

The fine art painting and drawing category is juried by Jim Welu, former director and chief curator of Worcester Art Museum (WAM), Diane Panarelli Miller, world renowned international artist and member of the New England Plein Air Painters and Jeanne Rosier Smith, accomplished international artist and member of the Pastel Society of America. Photography jurors include Nancy Burns, associate curator of prints, drawings and paintings of WAM, Stephen DiRado, professor of Clark University and Scott Erb and Donna Dufault of Erb/Dufault Photography.

Jurors Jim Welu and Nancy Burns will discuss different pieces of artwork from the festival in the auditorium of the Great Hall Saturday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. during a free talk. The discussion is open to all attendees.

The Small Stones Festival of the Arts wishes to thank its generous sponsors including Brigham Hill Foundation, The Town of Grafton, Rockland Trust Bank, Yesod Foundation, Artscope, Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund, Cummings School Service Fund, Hanover Foundation, David French Music Company, JCSI and local cultural councils.

At the Festival, many of the artists’ and photographers’ work will be for sale. The Worcester County Camera Club and The Blackstone Valley Art Association will have displays showcasing their organizations and art related merchandise for sale, too. For more details, visit smallstonesfestival.org