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Norwalk: The Weather Outside is Delightful


by turfgrrl


August 5th, 2007 · 14 Comments

Today is not supposed to be as hot, which is a good thing because yesterday was a sweltering day to be ambling through the SoNo arts festival. The music director for the festival should be singled out, for once again, combing the universe for good bands to perform for the crowds. Contemporary artist, Greg Haberny’s installation was for my, the best visual artist showing. Mixed media, bold re purposing of commercial symbols poked responses from the many people who gathered to view his work. I particularly enjoyed the pink “mcGun”, the handle of a revolver sticking up from a Macdonald’s fry carton. I cam home with a small sketch of a toho robot. Be sure to check him out on North Main street.

Craig Pattengill and Jack Chairamonte are likely the only canidates running for office this fall who have booths. Craig is selling ephemera  like vintage car advertising and  records matted  and ready for display. He also has chinese  hand crafted wood furniture. Jack  runs  SoNo Silver Co on No. Main street and has a booth with designer sun glasses and silver jewelry on display in front of his store.

Local political sightings included Town Clerk Andy Garfunkle whose started out as an ArtSlave (volunteer) in years past. This year Andy was taking in the festival as an attendee, although he managed to score a limited edition, autographed staff badge, making him the only candidate wearing art.

The local Norwalk Archeology Club was on hand with a table top exhibit, as well as other clubs and organizations with local ties, making the SoNo arts festival a good eclectic mix of art and community. The puppet parade is at 3pm today.

Tags: In the News · Norwalk

14 Responses so far ↓ “Norwalk: The Weather Outside is Delightful”



  • 1 Anonymous // Aug 5, 2007 at 12:21 pm

    Anybody besides me notice that the quality of wares being displayed has take a marked turn towards more crafty shlock and less fine art?

    Isn’t this a juried event? There’s enough Arts and Craps at Oyster Festival; we don’t need any more. I do not see this trend boding well for true artists and craftspersons.

    Not only that, the area on the south side of the railroad tracks on Main St. where lots of artists used to be is not empty save for the children’s play area.

  • 2 anonymous // Aug 5, 2007 at 2:33 pm

    We scored a beautiful salsa & chip bowl; also a Bear Naked T-shirt with the purchase of 3 bags of cereal.

    The Norwalk/Nagarote Sister City Project booth heralded the virtual walk - 3500 miles to be walked by us beginning Sept. 15 - The idea is that teams of walkers will keep track of their miles and we’ll see how long it takes us to “walk” the 3500 miles to Nagarote. This fits in well with the new Master Plan, doncha think?

  • 3 Anonymous // Aug 6, 2007 at 8:49 am

    I noted that the Archaeology Dept. booth from NCC had a prominent display of the Incerto House artifacts from the time they searched the property when it was dismantled. I suppose academia in Norwalk still takes some aspects of historical preservation seriously.

    Still, I don’t expect that their take will prevent Peter Bondi and his cronies on the HC from doing everything they can to prevent the house from being put back together, including citing unrealistic million-$ price quotes that were obtained for its reconstruction.

  • 4 turfgrrl // Aug 6, 2007 at 9:00 am

    Anonymous 3: I suppose that 7 months as chair of the HC takes more importance than the how many years under the previous chair did nothing happen? The other way of looking at it is that the HC still has not been able to get out of its own way to get the house rebuilt. Perhaps some new and different lines of thinking are required here.

  • 5 Anonymous // Aug 6, 2007 at 9:11 am

    Ah, Turfie - defender of Republicans regardless! Let’s punt wherever possible! I am continually amazed at how you always manage to deflect the issue brought up to something other than the question at hand. Looks like you have learned well from the GOP spinmeisters on the national level.

  • 6 turfgrrl // Aug 6, 2007 at 9:17 am

    Anonymous 5: Gee I thought you might be concerned that the Incerto house needed to be reassembled or something. Besides Peter Bondi is a Democrat. How about having a go at outlining what should be done instead of complaining about it?

  • 7 Carl Wilkins // Aug 6, 2007 at 9:22 am

    Re. Anonymous Post 4

    I think that people that go to these fests, are not the type that show up at the Guggenheim or the Louvre. Most folks are not ready to pay 600-1200 buck for a piece of art, be it canvas, glass, etching, or carved wood. I actually believe that is why we are seeing the change from quality to quantity. Sellers are not living in outer space, they have national publications, website’s and organizations that give feedback on Festivals and Flea Markets all over the state. They seem to have come up with the fact that they would rather sell 400 widgets at $3 each, then a piece of hand blown glass at $700. I think it is just a sign of the times. If you have any doubt, just look at the popularity of dollar stores. They have become a billion dollar business, and 15 years ago you were hard pressed to find one.

  • 8 Carl Wilkins // Aug 6, 2007 at 9:27 am

    SORRRY I meant to refer to Anonymous post #1

    That is the first mistake I have ever made, don’t you just hate it when you break a perfect record?

  • 9 turfgrrl // Aug 6, 2007 at 9:31 am

    Carl Wilkins: But you can look on it as a time to start a new perfect record ;)

  • 10 ANONYMOUS // Aug 6, 2007 at 9:56 am

    Incerto house? Isn’t that the pre revolutionary war house that we spent thousands d taxpayer’s dollars to disassemble t find out that it wasn’t really that old. Whatever happened to people raising money for these types of projects instead of spending taxpayer money.

  • 11 Anonymous // Aug 6, 2007 at 11:27 am

    Good point. Why don’t you start a non-profit movement to save the house, as long as it’s your idea? What’s that? Can’t do it? Now you know why nobody else has, either.

    Plus, it’s the city’s responsibility since the HC took it down in the first place. Now, if the City really wanted to move forward with the project then I would expect to hear from the Historical Commission. Oops, I forgot: the HC has been effectively neutered by Moccia and his appointment of cronies to the HC when it comes to preserving historical properties.

    Why don’t you ask Peter Bondi what he thinks should be done with the house?

  • 12 turfgrrl // Aug 6, 2007 at 11:46 am

    Anonymous 11: Still beating the drum on the last 7 months while ignoring the last 7 years of inaction by the HC. Place the blame where it belongs please.

  • 13 nwlknative // Aug 6, 2007 at 1:34 pm

    The artifacts dug up around the PROPERTY where the Incerto house stood have nothing to do with the age or historic value of the house itself. It has been proven that a historic house did sit on that property, but whether or not it is the Incerto home is questionable. Perhaps that is why there has been so little public support for reassembling it on Mill Hill.

  • 14 Anonymous // Aug 6, 2007 at 2:06 pm

    Perhaps if the public were made aware of it in other ways than denigrating (and factually incorrect) editorials by the Hour, there would be more support for reassembling it.

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