Artfeel returns; a dance troupe aims to dazzle in Woodlands
The second Artfeel ‘Fantasy Night’ of 2021 in The Woodlands is set for June 30 at Market Street Mall, with a full lineup of dancers and others à la carte for the avid performance art enthusiast.
Launched in 2017, Artfeel was created by local arts guru and patron Nickole Kerner Bobley in collaboration with the Woodlands Arts Council. After a hiatus of more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of the original reception location, the evenings returned in March.
The event, scheduled from 7 to 9 pm on June 30, is a celebration of the “Mystical Senses” public art sculpture at The Woodlands Waterway near Riva Row Boathouse. The original concept of Artfeel involves officials choosing a public artwork, and then Artfeel participants expressing their personal feelings about the artwork.
According to officials of The Wood Arts Council, who is co-sponsoring and directing the production of the event, Artfeel will feature many artists and others.
Harwood Taylor, director of a studio and art gallery in Houston, reproduce a TEDX talk he spoke about his father, and a Houston dance troupe, the Noble Motion Dance Company, will be performing as well.
The Arts Council is expected to offer participants of the Artfeel on June 20, “valuable works of art donated by festival artists for the Art Dash Party in April, as a thank you for helping Artfeel grow.”
Jenny Carattini-Wright, executive director of the Woodlands Arts Council, said the art gift was both a “thank you” to the patrons and a promotion for the Friday Night Art Dash party, which is held the day before Waterway Arts. Festival every April.
“Artfeel is from community for community and is part of our list of Because Art Matters programs,” Carattini Wright said in a press release. “We want to thank our loyal audience and give them a taste of what Art Dash is all about in the hope that they will join us next April for this incredible ‘non-gala’ event that helps fund our art scholarship program. “
Artfeel, officials explained, is a collaboration between many community entities, including Sarah Kelly Music School, Sweekman Artists and Market Street. A stage is set up in Central Park’s green community space, where shows take place.
“Some residents sing, some dance, some share an original or read a favorite poem or show a work of art on their own – and some say only one word – the emotion that the art has evoked in them. The rules are, there are no rules, and it’s fun, ”the officials explained in the press release. “Artfeel aims to eliminate elitism and academia from art and to get people of all ages interested in the art around them, especially public art since The Woodlands has one one of the largest outdoor art collections in the country.
Artfeel creator and host Nickole Kerner Bobley works with co-host Gideon Bustamante and David Deveau
“We are incredibly grateful to our partners and artists,” Bobley said in the release. “David, Gideon and I couldn’t do the show without these amazing people – the heartbeats of the show.”
The event is free inside Market Street and attendees are allowed to bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets, and small coolers. No glass container is allowed. In the event of inclement weather, those interested in participating should watch for changes on the Woodlands Arts Council website.
