Aug 25, 2014 3 min read

GREENSBORO – Art Blast on the Mon will be staged on Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30, but this year in a larger venue, the Ice Plant pavilion and grounds in Greensboro.

This ninth annual event is sponsored by the Nathanael Greene Historical Community Development Corp. and is a celebration of music and art for all ages. One of the more unique festivals in the area, visitors can enjoy many interactive programs, demonstrations and entertainment that are not found at other local fairs and festivals.

The Art Blast provides a hands-on experience for both children and adults, and allows a person to experience the fun and creativity of different art forms. At Art Blast, people don’t just watch the potter spinning the clay, they get to create and sculpt clay.

Several artists will be there with interactive demonstrations on techniques in paper art, print making, pottery, sidewalk chalk art, photography and other disciplines. Appearing again this year as special guests are representatives of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh with educational programs that include print making and several other creative activities.

The musical entertainment this year includes two-time national banjo champion Vince Farsetta and his amazing fiddle player friend, Keith McManus. Art Blast will close Saturday with a dance.

The blast also will include a show of Greensboro historic pottery, the unique stoneware that was manufactured from local red clay and thus had a distinctive coloring and an important influence on Greensboro’s early history and economy.

The “Everyone’s Art Show and Every Kid’s Art Show” will again be part of Art Blast and the people are invited to enter their own artistic creations to compete for prize money and awards in various categories and divisions. The show will be at Greensboro Skating Rink this year from noon to 4 p.m., with the awards ceremony at 5 p.m.

Those who attend the Art Blast will also find a host of artisans and craft people with their wares on sale, and a variety of food vendors available all day.

There is no admission to the Art Blast on the Mon and everything is free, thanks to the generous support of sponsors. This year’s sponsors include Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts, the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency and Community Bank. Many other local businesses also contribute with sponsorship and donations, helping to enable Art Blast on the Mon to continue celebrating arts and music and enriching the culture for people of Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.