By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
When the clock struck 5 o’clock on Sunday afternoon of the Black Swamp Arts Festival, the energy changed to a barely contained chaos.
The BGSU rugby team and other students descend on the Main Stage area removing tables and chairs, even as few diners polish off last servings from the food trucks.
The last performer, Gaby Moreno is greeting dozens of fans who have gathered at the merchandise table for autographs and a few words.
On the street, artists are packing up their wares. Tents that moments before were artful displays of their handiwork, are now filed with tubs and boxes, bags and packing material.
With strong sales reported, they had less artwork to pack up.
One ceramic artist reported that her stock was almost cleaned out.
Glass artist Mike Grau, of North Royalton, also said sales were strong. The artist noted for his glass pumpkins and other ornaments said during the pandemic his sales largely shifted on line, But the BGSU graduate continues to return to the BG festival. It’s the only show he does, and sales this year showed why.
Jeff Borda, who crafts pens from recycled material, said his sales exceeded what he sold at the Columbus Art Fair. Only a show in Florida surpassed what he business here.
In the midst of all this are the volunteers who run the show, dealing with last minute snafus and overseeing the return of downtown to normal.
As all this is going on, there’s a satisfied buzz.
“Everything went really smoothly,” Mark Strang who chairs the committee of volunteers who stage the event.
Amy Craft Ahrens, co-chairs the concessions committee, said she hasn’t seen the final numbers but all signs point to this being one of the most successful festivals ever.
The rain earlier in the day on Friday and then the fall-like temperatures that came in its wake caused some concerns.
But festival-goers were undeterred by the cooler temperatures, Craft Ahrens said. The festival was prepared offering hoodies in addition to the short-sleeved and long-sleeved T-shirts. Sales for the hoodies and long-sleeved T-shirts were brisk, she said.
Those crowds on hand for Saturday night’s Main Stage shows heard a series of strong sets. Yam Yam jammed at the supper hour leading up to headliner Amy Helm and her band anchored by ace guitarist Dan Littleton, who always seemed to have the right pedal effect and turn of phrase to complement Helm’s vocals.
Her set was heavy on tunes from her album “Silver City,” that had just been released.
The Sensational Barnes Brothers delivered a set of inspirational music bring the Saturday show to a close.
Moreno ended the festival on a high note. Her trio went through a set that spanned styles from cumbia to playful jazz, ballads to rockers, sung in Spanish and English.
One piece in particular “Fronteras” was sung in Spanish except for the last line of the chorus in which she sang out in English “This is where I belong.”
That song speaks to the central theme of her work. It was inspired by her decision to move to California from her native Guatemala “to follow my dreams and make music,” she said. “I realized that I was going to be far away and embarking on this new adventure full of hope and joy,” she said.
”Those are themes I always carry with me. They will always show up. They will always come back ,” she said. “I still feel a lot of gratitude for the opportunities I’ve had here.”
The message endures. “We should all feel joy. We should all feel hope. We should all feel love, “ Moreno said. “That’s what I love about doing music. I get to bring all these feelings to people and that makes me feel incredible and grateful to be one of the music makers.”
The festival shares that mission.
“It’s been wonderful to watch the generations of people in Bowling Green bring their kids to the festival, and now their kids are starting to do some of the volunteering,” Strang said. “We’re really deeply rooted in the community. The community really loves the festival, and the festival loves the community back.”
