Junebug 2012 STARTS TONIGHT!

From the Chamber:

A drum circle, community mural project, plein air painting competition and the eclectic sound of Los Gringos are just some of the festivities on tap to mark the fifth anniversary of the Metuchen Junebug ArtFest this spring.

A very special fifth anniversary commemoration is planned on June 1 to kick off the month-long celebration of the arts. The evening gets underway beginning at 7 p.m. with the unveiling of the Junebug 2012 sculpture by Metuchen artist Duffy Dillinger.

Opening night will also offer lots of cultural entertainment for visitors, including these exciting activities:

•                Community Mural: Everyone who visits the ArtFest can help create the fifth anniversary mural.  Beginning on opening night and on subsequent Friday nights, five panels will be placed at strategic locations, along with art-making materials.  Volunteers will help visitors add their own photos and drawings to the panels. At the conclusion of the festival, local artist Kim Adlerman will work the five panels into a beautiful mural, which will be exhibited throughout the summer.

•                Drum Circle: Richard Reiter, an Emmy-award winning musician and leader of drum circles, will bring more than 60 drums and other instruments and invite visitors to participate.  He will greet the gathering following the sculpture unveiling and lead an "anniversary festival parade" to Borough Hall, inviting all to join him there for the drumming. 

•                Los Gringos: Live from the festival's main stage, the Jersey Shore's favorite rock band will perform an eclectic mix of tunes spanning several decades.

•                Metuchen High School: Student arts, ranging from film, spoken word, performance pieces and music, will be showcased at the Old Franklin School.

Following opening night festivities, Junebug will continue to offer the traditional fare of arts and entertainment that has drawn thousands of visitors to Metuchen on Friday nights in June.

The festival is held each Friday night in June from 6-10 p.m., and features a wide array of open air exhibits, interactive art events, open mic sessions, and live music performances. This year's Junebug will also include a new plein air painting competition on June 8, and on June 15, Metuchen's own "Project Runway" will give children and teens aged 8-18 the opportunity to redesign and then model the official Junebug T-shirt.