New Haven Independent

Members of the Odonata Dance Project (pictured) roamed the streets of Westville Saturday as a mobile art piece, performing a slow improvisational dance that stopped passersby in their tracks.

It was part of the 12th annual Westville Village ArtWalk, a festival of art and music that brought visitors from far and wide. The streets were lined with artisan’s booths selling all manner of art and crafts, Edgewood Park was filled with activities for kids, and there was music and theater on four different stages. The festival began on Friday night with gallery openings and live music in Westville.

This year’s was the biggest ArtWalk ever, with twice as many artist’s booths as last year’s. Organizers estimated that upwards of 10,000 visitors checked out the festival Friday night and Saturday.

Among the arts and crafts attractions in Edgewood Park were tie-dying, mobile-making, button bracelets, pressed-leaf coasters, and henna tattoos (pictured).

Westville’s Boxville was a popular attraction, inviting kids to build, decorate, and destroy with cardboard boxes.

The New Haven Fire Department had a fire safety demonstration trailer set up. Adult firefighters handed out hats and stickers to young firefighters-to-be.

The New Haven Police Department also had a presence, in the form of its big white gelding, Marshmallow.

Ana De Los Angeles was selling cupcakes and other delicious desserts in front of the future home of her new shop. She is opening the Manjares Pastry Shop in June, at the site of a former deli on West Rock Avenue.

With four different stages and 15 bands, music was at every turn. Caravan Of Thieves performed on the Edgewood Park stage, offering a jazzy string-band take on “Bohemian Rhapsody” that sounded like Django Rheinhardt playing Queen.

Students at three local preschools made edible sculptures out of boxes of donated food. Rebecca Weiner sent in the following photos and info:

“The Westville Community Nursery School created a ‘rocket of roni’s’ on Friday morning out of donated macaroni boxes. The children and teachers worked together to climb ‘higher and higher’.”

“The Montesori School at BEKI created a menorah out of various non-persishable food items. Collecting food donations is an ongoing program at BEKI and the kids loved creating their sculpture.”

A sculpture by students at St. Aedan’s Pre-K.