Festival Moments You Won’t Want to Miss
Momentum, The Arts Commission’s third annual arts and music festival, is back, bringing with it three days jam-packed with salutes to the artists, musicians and performers who keep moving Toledo forward.
The free festival, from Thursday, September 19 through Saturday, September 21, offers dozens of ways to engage with Toledo’s creative community. But don’t let the experience become a race— set your own pace by viewing the full schedule online at momentumtoledo.org— and make sure you hit these can’t-miss festival moments:
Keys to the City Glassblowing Day
How would you “unlock” Toledo? See how eight glassblowing artists envision the Keys to the City as they create iconic pieces, commissioned by Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, at Gathered Glassblowing Studio (23 N. Huron St.). Watch them work from 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday.
Art Loop: Dancin’ in The Streets
Jump for joy as Toledo’s dance community hits the streets of downtown Toledo during The Arts Commission’s monthly Art Loop. See a variety of dance performances, ranging from contemporary to ethnic, traditional and interactive, from 5:30-9pm on Thursday.
Supernova Goes Viral
Denver Digerati’s Supernova Digital Animation Festival provides a showcase for the unique work of digital animators and motion artists. Fortunately, you won’t have to go all the way to Colorado to experience it. See previous Supernova award winners, as well as curated selections, Great Lakes Area Digital Animation highlights, and more, at the Park Vision screen in Promenade Park. The preview Thursday during the Art Loop is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. On Saturday watch animations in-between stage performances.
Toledo Mini Maker Faire
Saturday kicks off at noon, allowing you a full day of art, music, fun, and makers! Make your first stop this display of wares and curious creations from local artists, engineers, scientists and crafters who are all coming together in the name of invention and resourcefulness. Check it out from noon-6pm at the Imagination Station. For more info, toledo.makerfaire.com
Siena Liggins
The Detroit-based queer pop artist stole the show (and plenty of hearts) at Detroit’s Mo Pop Festival earlier this summer. Expect more of the same from this rising star as she headlines with a 70-minute set on the Promenade Park Stage at 9:50pm on Saturday. For a full lineup of performers hitting the Festival Park and Promenade Park stages, including local favorites like Hector Mendoza, Bitch, Thunder! and goLab, visit
momentumtoledo.org.
POOF!
By Bradley Scherzer
Feed a giant, colorful and charming creature named POOF! neon poof balls, which will move through the sculpture before flying back out. Scherzer is a Toledo-based artist whose vision is made possible in part by an INTER/ACTIVE grant from The Arts Commission. This piece will debut at 7:30pm on Thursday and remain on view during the festival on Saturday.
Aqueous
by Jen Lewin
The internationally-recognized New York City-based artist will illuminate the riverfront with an interactive, light-filled landscape of pathways that will shift in color and reflection throughout the day. Go play at 7:30pm during the Thursday debut, or during the festival on Saturday.
Sunset Carry Out
by Rhonda Weppler and Trevor Mahovsky
Weppler and Mahovsky are known for their site-specific installations that turn temporary glass structures into “corner stores” filled with lanterns made to look like daily objects. See the duo’s Toledo-centric Sunset Carry Out, which features items like a Tony Packo’s pickle jar, at 7:30pm on Thursday and Friday. Saturday, the installation will stay on view throughout the day until, beginning at 8pm, visitors can line up to “shop” and take home a piece of art from Sunset Carry Out for free!
Sound Sculpture
by Masary Studios
Even the worst musicians can create a song using this musical instrument from Ryan Edwards, of Masary Studios, who has turned a collection of sounds from the community into a musical instrument made out of color-changing cubes. Just pick up one of the interactive sculpture’s cubes and listen as the pitch, rhythm, melody and harmony changes with each movement. Stack them, toss them, push them together, and get creative as you explore how physical contact produces a playful, engaging score. Make some music at 7:30pm on Thursday and Friday, as well as during the day on Saturday.
The Herd
by Kelley Bell
200 luminous inflatable swim rings will be laced together in a net to form a giant mass of calmly bobbing creatures in the One Seagate Courtyard Pond. The playful tribute to Lake Erie, and those who inhabit both its water and its shores, will be on view at 7:30pm on Thursday and Friday, as well as during the day on Saturday.
