Virtu Arts Festival a favorite for local artists and residents

June 2, 2012

Photos by Maria Shanahan

Fresh Cut Glass was just one of the many vendors at Wilcox Park last weekend as part of the Virtu Arts Festival. Owners Michelle and Bill Champitto came down from Winthrop, Mass. to sell some of their hand crafted stained and blown glass pieces.

WESTERLY – Crafters, artists and art enthusiasts filled Wilcox Park in Westerly on a sunny Memorial Day weekend for the Virtu Art Festival.

Vendors came from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and other nearby states to either exhibit their work at the festival or browse the stalls of more than 180 professional artists and crafters.

Michelle and Bill Champitto of Fresh Cut Glass came from Winthrop, Mass., to exhibit hand crafted stained and blown glass products in the park.

“It’s a beautiful setting,” Michelle Champitto said. “And it seems somewhat well-attended.”

Angela Smith, cochairman of the Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the event, agreed that it was “quite successful.”

“We have great artists and crafts people here,” Smith said. “The artists enjoy coming because of the park setting, and that’s one of the reasons why they keep returning.”

Smith said that a steady flow of people wandered amongst vendors’ stalls on both Saturday and Sunday when the festival was held. The festival has been held annually for the last 15 years.

“We’ve always had good attendance,” Smith said. “People love to stroll through the beautiful park and it brings business to downtown Westerly.”

Pat Giarrusso, owner of Peppermint Patti’s, based in Wakefield, attended the festival. Peppermint Patti’s sells personalized children’s products such as blankets and towels. Giarrusso agreed that the festival’s location was a huge draw.

“It’s a beautiful location,” she said. “I don’t want them to stop doing it.”

In fact, some crafters said this was the only craft show they attend in Rhode Island.

The Crafty Peddler of Worcester, Mass., is one of those vendors. Deb Carrier, of The Crafty Peddler, sells unique glass wind chimes, some made from plates, beer bottles and the like.

“We have a following [of customers] that do come,” Carrier said. “But we rely on new people as well.”

Many locals continue to attend the festival and bring friends and family with them.

“It was great,” Randy Orlomoski of Westerly said. “It was a perfect day for it. We come every year.”

The Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce, along with vendors and visitors, were thankful for the continued use of Wilcox Park as the festival’s location.