Wassaic Art Festival

I've known Bowie Zunino, the Director of the Wassaic Project, since she was an infant and I'm very impressed with the terrific arts festival that she, Jeff Barnett-Winsby and Eve Biddle have created in Wassaic, New York. On Friday, August 5th, The Wassaic Project opens its fourth year with over 100 artists, 23 bands, poetry readings, dance performances, and film screenings.

I've known the Director of the Film Program at Wassaic for her entire life ... she's my daughter, filmmaker Liliana Greenfield-Sanders, just back from the Sundance Screenwriting and Director's Fellowship. For Wassaic, Lily has assembled a fabulous program of short films including the Cannes Selection "Suu and Uchikaawa," Sundance favorite "The Strange Ones" and "Little Horses" co-written by Wassaic Alum/Academy Award winner Luke Matheny, among others. Don't miss "Love/Hate" starring Ben Wishaw and the feature length documentary "Frank and Cindy" which was featured on "This American Life."

The Music Lineup, programmed by Scott Anderson, features over 20 bands including Free Blood, Delicate Steve, Patrick Cleandenim, The Acrylics, Cuddle Magic, Bobby, Electric Junkyard Gamelan, Caged Animals, This Frontier Needs Heroes, and more.

The Wassaic Project provides free art, music, dance and film to the public and aims to present art in a venue that challenges the white walls of traditional art spaces, focusing on site-specific installations and performances. They have also created a year-round residency program for artists to work in those old converted granary elevators, mills, cattle auction houses and stables throughout the year.

The festival is this weekend and it's not to be missed.
For the complete Festival schedule and more information about getting there and camping over the weekend, visit Wassaicproject.org/summer-festival/overview-info/.

It's a perfect summer weekend that's only a 2 hour train ride or drive from NYC.