In order to bring local art and the community together, Souderton Connects held its 11th annual Art Jam on September 30 from 10-5 p.m. in downtown Souderton.
Souderton Connects Manager Jessica Cimini said Art Jam’s purpose is to bring art into the community by giving people a taste of different art while combining it with vendor retail.
“It brings art, either decorative or all the fine arts, into the community in a place where maybe members of the community aren’t familiar with it,” Cimini said.
By combining local art with aspects that others may enjoy, like shopping or a certain band, Cimini said it can help draw more people out.
“Anyone can go to an art museum or go see something like that, but if you combine it with some other aspects that the community automatically might be interested in,” Cimini said, “you are introducing something to people who might not have the opportunity to see it otherwise.”
There are many different parts of Art Jam that people can enjoy.
“I think it gives people an opportunity to get outside and walk, and maybe meet some new people in their community. And also to help support small business,” Ruffle My Door owner Deborah Miller said.
According to Souderton resident Tracy Fetters, Art Jam welcomes a plethora of artists.
“There’s more of a variety maybe here, so that’s nice to see something different,” Fetters said.
Art By Yonina owner Yonina Schuchman said that Art Jam is also a great opportunity for students who are interested in art to experience it in their own hometown.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for high school students to see art that other people are doing without having to go into Philadelphia, to the Art Museum. It’s right here in their own community,” Schuchman said.
Not only can students come out and experience Art Jam, but they can also choose to get involved with the event.
According to Cimini, if high school students want to get involved in Art Jam, the “number one answer is volunteering.”
“I think that especially art students from the high school or people that are interested can come see what perhaps a future can be in art,” Cimini said.
Cimini said it’s even possible for a student to purchase a spot to be a vendor with parental assistance.
According to Fetters, Art Jam is also a great place to start holiday shopping for this time of year.
There were a variety of different things to buy or do, ranging from woodworking, airbrush, henna tattoos and “really unique pieces for jewelry,” Fetters said.
“Glittering Glamours has all glow-in-the dark stuff, which is great for teens,” Souderton resident Jeanna Lewis said.
Lewis also said Art Jam was great for “supporting the community and our local vendors,” and even “networking a little bit.”
Cimini said it was a “very rewarding” run of Art Jam this year, and that Souderton Connects will be hosting the event again next fall.
