FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2020 (Hyannis, MA) – The public will finally have a chance to see Cynthia Packard’s Citizens Bank Pops by the Sea commemorative painting this weekend during the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s (AFCC) Home Is Where The Art Is virtual arts and music festival.
“Every year, the unveiling is a must-see event that brings the community together to celebrate one talented local artist and their work which epitomizes the Citizens Bank Pops by the Sea concert,” said AFCC Executive Director Julie Wake. “While we’re disappointed we can’t be there in person, we’re excited to bring Cynthia’s inspiring piece to audiences virtually. We’ve long been impressed with Cynthia’s artistic vision, and we can’t think of a better person to reflect the creative ideals of the Pops by the Sea.”
Originally scheduled for April 9th at the Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis, the unveiling was postponed due to the pandemic. It will be streamed live on the AFCC’s Facebook page from Packard’s Provincetown studio this Saturday, May 2nd at 6 pm.
RogersGray is sponsoring the virtual event. “More than ever, the arts have played a vital role in bringing people together through virtual concerts, museum tours, painting classes, and more,” said RogersGray Chief Marketing Officer Lynn Mason-Small. “I can think of no better time to support the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod and the role they are playing to keep us all supported and connected.”
Packard is eager for the public to see her visual representation of the Pops by the Sea concert, which serves as the AFCC’s biggest fundraiser of the year. “This painting came out of me,” she said. “I had no idea what I was going to do with this painting. I just made some marks, and those marks told me what to do next. It was like an event that took place by me being present and listening and responding to my own voice.”
That meditative nature of art has served to ease her tensions during these uncertain times. And she has used art as a conduit to help do the same for others.
In recent weeks, Packard has taken to Facebook live, streaming virtual workshops every Friday and Saturday afternoon that are as much about life as they are about art. “When you’re creating, you have to be okay with not knowing what is going on,” she said. “You have to be good at being lost. That is the creative moment… We don’t know what is going on. We’re scared and we’re lost. That is exactly how it feels to paint a painting. And then you have moments of clarity where you notice something beautiful.
“With the classes, I’m trying to get people to get outside of themselves and realize, we’re all going to be okay,” she continued. “There are always going to be hard times, but it is how you react to them. My reaction to this is, ‘Let’s go. Let’s stand up. Let’s make something creative and go inside and find your voice.’”
Along with the unveiling, Packard will be leading a virtual class on Facebook live on Friday at 1 pm as part of Home Is Where The Art Is.
Packard is one of nearly 20 local, regional, and national artists taking part in the festival which starts Thursday evening and runs through Saturday. Other participants include musician G. Love, filmmaker Amy Jo Johnson, Boston-based musicians Adam Ezra and Will Dailey, singer-songwriter Tianna Esperanza, musician Zoe Lewis of Provincetown, and jazz musician and composer Bert Jackson of Brewster.
The festival will raise awareness and money for the Cape Cod Arts Relief Fund. The fund was established by the AFCC at the beginning of April to assist local artists and cultural nonprofits that have been impacted by the pandemic.
Since that time, nearly 175 artists have applied for financial assistance. The AFCC has already granted roughly $13,000 to 35 local artists during the first round of funding. A second round of funding will take place this week.
Donations to the Cape Cod Arts Relief Fund can be made online at www.artsfoundation.org or at any point during the 3-day festival.
Businesses interested in serving as a festival sponsor should contact AFCC Director of Development Amy Tuttle at atuttle@artsfoundation.org.
About the AFCC
The AFCC’s mission is to support, promote, and celebrate the arts and culture of Cape Cod. It fulfills its mission by funding grants, fellowships, and scholarships; by advocating for more awareness on the impact the Cape’s creative economy has on our region and beyond; and by building a strong arts community network through membership.