Serious Fun Arts Fest Kicks Off with Monumental Murals and Sculpture

BCW Member ArtsWestchester kicked off its upcoming five-day Serious Fun Arts Fest in downtown White Plains on Wednesday with artist Chris Soria painting an 18-by-30-foot mural at the former Macy’s at the White Plains Galleria. A press conference to preview the exciting event was attended by artist Soria, White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, ArtsWestchester CEO Janet Langsam and White Plains Business Improvement District Executive Director Brittany Brandwein.

Soria is one of several artists who in the coming weeks will paint the first of several monumental murals in downtown White Plains as part of Serious Fun’s celebration of public art involving more than 200 artists. The five-day Serious Fun Arts Fest to be held Oct. 12-16 will brighten the city with activities ranging from concerts to live mural painting, a public art walking tour and dancing in the streets. There will be performance art, massive public art unveilings by renowned artists, fun family artmaking and more throughout downtown.

Other new monumental new works of public art in downtown White Plains include:

• A two-story reflective stainless-steel tear drop sculpture by Bulgarian artist Georgi Minchev.
• A nine-story vibrant fabric installation by internationally renowned artist Amanda Browder.
• Sculpture installations by artists: Shelley Parriott; Tom Fruin; Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong and more.
• Two major art installations by Barbara Takanaga at the White Plains Station.
• A block-long mural at the construction site of the future Hamilton Green.

A Serious Fun Block Party and Headliner Concert Celebration are scheduled for October 15 and 16 on Mamaroneck Avenue, which will be closed to vehicles.

“When we talk about ‘Serious Fun,’ we are talking about bringing the arts outdoors, right onto the street for everyone to enjoy… isn’t that a fun way to bring our community together?” says ArtsWestchester CEO Janet Langsam. “The five days of public art and music is all about access – – on and off the walls in White Plains for visitors and residents of all ages.”

The festival is ArtsWestchester’s latest investment in a public art program that since 2020 has provided artists with more than $700,000 in grants and commissions and delivered two dozen new works throughout Westchester County.

The Serious Fun Arts Fest is possible thanks to a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the state’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Major support is also provided by Montefiore Einstein, the festival’s presenting sponsor.