By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – The second day of the 2016 ArtsFest began with two more sold out events. On Friday, the Wabass recital and the Urban Dinner were both sold out and on Saturday ArtsFest began at 12 noon with the sold-out Jewelry Workshop with Mary Hettmansperger at Gallery 64. MiBash News caught up with Emily Meyer, wife of ArtsFest Artistic Director Ranaan Meyer, who said that the workshop was well worth the price of admission.
The next sold out event for ArtsFest on Saturday was the Taste the Hops beer tasting out on the Honeywell House terrace. Five craft ales from around the county and one international lager were presented to the 48 attendees who spent about an hour on the terrace cooling down by sampling some suds.
Instead of doing “pop up” performances like last year, Ranaan Meyer instead opened Saturday night’s show for Jennie Devoe. Meyer had the audience of roughly 100 people laughing at his funny stories before Devoe took to the Eagles Theatre stage and cracked a few jokes of her own.
The Indianapolis-based singer / songwriter talked to MiBash News as she first arrived and she said she is very impressed by the historic Eagles Theatre.
ArtsFest Coordinator Michelle Hughes said that this year’s three-day festival was a success.
But ArtsFest isn’t over. Sunday’s events include a conversation with M. Travis DiNicola, executive director of Indy Reads and co-host of Indianapolis Public Broadcasting’s “The Art of the Matter.” Ranaan Meyer will talk to DiNicola about the importance of art in local culture in the intimate setting of the Dr. James Ford Historic Home starting at 2 pm. Tickets are $10. The 2016 ArtsFest ends Sunday night with Kristin Chenoweth on the Honeywell Center’s Ford Theater stage starting at 7:30. Tickets for that event are still available.
