By Cate Lecuyer
staff writer
May 28, 2009 12:38 pm BEVERLY — Beverly Arts Fest is more than just a day devoted to showcasing area paintings, photography, jewelry and other crafts. It's a chance chow down on food from local restaurants, gather around street performers, listen to some live music and appreciate art as a whole. What started as a small, community fair now draws more than 4,000 visitors each year, said organizer Gin Wallace of Beverly Main Streets. She said there are about 100 artists who set up booths along Cabot Street, which is closed to cars on Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. While there are many returning artists, about 30 percent are new. "We've accepted artists from all over New England this year," Wallace said. The event has also expanded to other parts of the community. Main Streets teamed with Endicott to display community and student art work at the college's recently completed Center for Visual and Performing Arts. Wallace said the festival has also become more interactive. With a new activity called "Art on the Spot," people will get a small square of a famous painting that they can draw on the sidewalk with chalk. "By the end of it, you have the community's version of the Mona Lisa," Wallace said. "We're hoping to do a whole section of the sidewalk." If you go Don't miss Oldies 103, broadcasting live from 1 to 3 p.m. Be on the lookout for a shuttle to Beverly High School for Solar Field Day, where you can tour the solar panels and learn about renewable energy. Wear sunscreen. You'll be outside most of the day.
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