Art Raleigh, the fourth and final festival of the Arts Alive on Lichtin Plaza series, will be held October 18-19, 2008 in downtown Raleigh.  This first-of-its-kind art fair will showcase Raleigh’s leading galleries, arts organizations, and a juried arts and crafts market.

Several local art galleries will present an assortment of their pieces at the festival.  Participating galleries and visual art organizations include Adam Cave Fine Art, ArtSource Fine Art and Framing, Artspace, The Collectors Gallery, Flanders Art Gallery, Gallery C, Lee Hansley Gallery, Long View Gallery, M. Street Gallery, Nicole’s Studio and Art Gallery, Points of View Photography Gallery, Rebus Works, and Visual Art Exchange.

In addition, a juried arts and crafts market will feature only North Carolina artists.  Approximately 25 fine artists and crafters will be on hand to sell their work at the event, which is free to the public.

Art Raleigh will also feature two large-scale installations.  Hillsborough artist Jim Adams will create a temporary sculpture, “Hope Rises”, a tall tower made primarily of bamboo and other renewable materials.  Atop the tower will sit a pod, which will be lit at night to create an ambient glow. “Hope Rises” will speak of newness, hope, and a gathering of people that make up our diverse community.  Artist Mathew Curran of Raleigh will create the second installation, “Esse Quam Videri“.  The large vibrant mural, including colorful, fun, positive graffiti, will include elements of Raleigh and its skyline.  Both installations will be interactive, inviting event visitors to participate in the creation of the final work.

Art Raleigh will culminate the Arts Alive on Lichtin Plaza series.  Each festival was designed to showcase the richness and diversity of contemporary art and enliven the outdoor Lichtin Plaza at Raleigh’s beautiful Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.  The Capital Holiday Arts Celebration, the first festival in the series, was held November 24, 2007 and highlighted some of the Triangle’s premier holiday arts performances.  Puppet Fusion, a celebration of the art of puppetry, took place March 6-7, 2008.  Art on the Edge, a contemporary arts festival featuring international and local performers, was held August 21-23, 2008.  Artsplosure serves as the producer and organizer of Arts Alive on Lichtin Plaza.