Community Arts Night

"Birds of a Feather" Project - June 2019

Community Arts Night draws hundreds to paint wooden birds in downtown Newport

On a surprisingly chilly evening in June 2019, the rainclouds parted, and made way for over 200 people to come together to paint wooden birds on the Newport Town Common that were prominently placed in the trees in downtown Newport that summer.  The large-scale public art project, aptly titled “Birds of a Feather,” was presented by the Library Arts Center as a part of the Newport Chamber of Commerce’s “Spring into Summer Weekend.”  The project was a celebration of creativity and community, and also signaled the start of the Center’s series of community arts events in 2019.  The first annual “Community Arts Night” took place on the town common under big tent, a space generously provided by the Newport Chamber, on the eve of their popular event—the Newport Brew Fest.  “The turnout was terrific!” said Library Arts Center executive director, Kate Luppold. “We were pleasantly surprised that we ran out of birds!”  LAC staff member Fran Huot added, “The sheer size of the crowd blew us away.  We were encouraged  that the community was excited about these collaborative projects.  We can’t wait to see how these creative ventures will grow and evolve in the years to come.”  The event drew participants of all ages from Newport and surrounding communities, and birds were painted with acrylic paints and Sharpie markers in a variety of styles, just as diverse as their painters.  The crowd enjoyed live music from band Second Wind, as well as tacos from food truck Tacos, Tacos and locally-made ice cream from Sanctuary Dairy Farm

The “Birds of a Feather” project was part of a larger series of events that the Arts Center has been developing that dive into the concept of “creative placemaking” that aims to harness the power of arts and culture to allow for more genuine public engagement.  The term was coined Ann Markusen and Anne Gadwa Nicodemus for the National Endowment for the Arts in 2010, and refers to the process in which “partners from public, private, non-profit, and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region around arts and cultural activities.”  This project, as well as last summer’s successful “Fish Sticks” public art project were spearheaded by local artist and LAC board member Christie Scott.  This colorful flock of hundreds of birds soon became a temporary public art installation—by the community and for the community.  Birds flew high in the trees of downtown Newport throughout the summer, in the median along downtown Main Street, as well as in other select trees downtown.  Thousands of residents and visitors enjoyed the colorful display of artwork.

“In nature, birds of a single species often fly
together forming groups called flocks. I like to think of Newport and the surrounding community as a flock. As such, we share similar aspirations and interests. When we flock together in shared
experiences we are a healthier, stronger,
and happier community.”

Christie Scott

Community Project Coordinator and Former LAC Board Member