Anne Cubberly’s creations — the fish and bird — could be seen in Downtown on Saturday. Cubberly is a 2013 Hartford Arts & Heritage Jobs Grant recipient for her production Night Fall, coming in October. Her giant puppets make appearances at cultural events throughout the year, including recently at the Latin World Rhythms Festival.
Another 2013 Hartford Arts & Heritage Jobs Grant recipient — Real Art Ways — showcased a mini-golf course on a spot typically declared off limits to the public. Artist Randall Gilman helped transform part of Bushnell Plaza on the corner of Main and Gold Streets with a giant frog, miniature Traveler’s Tower, and mini lighthouses.
Before opening to the public, the 3-hole course received some finishing touches
The golf course is intended to highlight art, culture, and history from the region. Will K. Wilkins, the Executive Director of Real Art Ways, says he hopes that the golf course will expand.
Down the street, the Hartford Public Library hosted musical performances, including that by Ray González. The Hartford Public Library has previously hosted free jazz concerts on Sundays. In June, the free Ray González Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival was held at the Riverfront Plaza.
Every August, Breakdancing Shakespeare interprets another famous play and performs it at Hartford Stage. This year’s selection was The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Youth gave an abbreviated performance without the costumes or props. Some dancers showed noticeable improvement since the early August performances on Church Street.
Where they really shined was off stage, in an energetic dance circle
A living statue posed by the Bushnell Park Pond. Hartford has been previously graced with living statues, including outside of the Old State House in years past.
Large puzzles and other games were set up near the Pump House Gallery, on the space used by the Bushnell Park ice rink during winter months. On the average day, park visitors provide their own entertainment by organizing Ultimate Frisbee and soccer games, setting up nets for badminton, or putting around with a golf club and ball.
Saturday morning, volunteers used chalk to color squares on an over-sized chess board.
Without special permission or planning, kids routinely take to the park sidewalks with chalk to leave their marks.
The Penguin Book Truck set up shop in Bushnell Park as part of the HodgePodge kickoff. The HodgePodge is an open air street market that started last year and has resumed for a second season.
Saturday’s many free events — excluding the They Might Be Giants concerts and a few other activities — highlighted what Hartford already has and does. Art, music, dance, performance, and games happen here often, minus the packaging and marketing.
