OC's Indie Arts, Music Festival set Saturday
The event will coincide with the dedication of five brone statues made by grade school students alongside a professional artist.

Oil City and its Justus Park will see something Saturday that's likely unmatched in the city's history.

The first Indie Arts and Music Festival, set to coincide with the dedication of five bronze statues crafted by Oil City elementary students alongside a professional artist, will kick off at 10 a.m.

Students created the statues with sculptor Dave Poulin last year through an Arts-in-Education residency program.

The first statue dedications will happen on the South Side at the city library and near the pavilion along East Front Street starting at 10 a.m. An hour later, the three statues in Justus Park will be unveiled.

Musicians will play their free concerts through 8 p.m. Saturday.

Last year, elementary students were challenged to come up with a theme for the statues and students were selected to model for the life-size likenesses.

As that's happening, independent area singers and songwriters will play half-hour sets of original music in the park's Carl Brozeski Band Shell.

A complete lineup of the day's entertainment, as well as a what-to-bring/what-not-to-bring list, can be found on the Internet at http://venangago-go.blogspot.com.

In addition to music, the event will include food vendors and an artisan demonstration by basket maker Kathy Perrett.

ARTS Oil City coordinator Joann Wheeler, local singer/songwriter Jerome Wincek and elementary principal Tom Houston have coordinated the day's activities along with city administrators.

Wheeler said she hopes the event will become an annual happening in Oil City.

"Let's make Oil City the indie city," she said.

Wincek reported on the blog that an independent music and arts festival in Oil City is something he's wanted to see happen for a long time.

"I've wasted a lot of time waiting around for someone else to do it," he said. "I am guilty of complaining that there is a huge void of original culture in this area. There is very little to do that would encourage people to pursue independent artistry as a living. I guess that on one hand, it's hard enough just to make ends meet, so why waste time on frivolities? But on the other, life should not be about maintaining, but also enjoying. Much about this area is inspiring, but it is often hard to see.

He and a friend started discussing the matter and came up with a "surprising number of local" talent.

"It didn't take much thought to realize that we could fill up at least a day with many different people playing a huge variety of original music," he said.

May 24, 2007  The Derrick