Creating a Lively Canvas: The Third Annual Dover Art Week gave residents and visitors of all ages the chance to see—and make—art to capture their creative spirits.

By Mariana Simioni

Photos by Karen Fucito, Tony Torres, David Arredondo

From sidewalk chalk sketches to dramatic photos, bright and moody acrylics to all-are-welcome community murals, Dover was filled with music to the ears and inspiration for the eyes. Here is a glimpse into a week’s worth of captured thoughts and images:

Sunday, July 2: The “Colors of My Village Art Market”, sponsored by Yucca Market and hosted by Casa Puerto Rico, buzzed with art, music, and lively conversation. Color-splashed tables lined the space as visitors weaved through, eating, sharing stories, and listening to live music.

1:47 p.m.:

"In Dominican culture, we have these faceless dolls. They represent our diversity—we’re a mix of everything,” said acrylics painter Carisse Santana. "They're faceless because we're not just one identity.”

"I like unconventional beauty—the freaky and the misunderstood," said Sara Morris, who goes by “Smegy”. She works in acrylics spray painting. "You’ll see Medusa here, and ancient Egyptian symbols, too.  I’m Egyptian, so it’s personal.” 

3:12 p.m.

“Dover has always had potential, but the focus has mostly been on sports and restaurants,” said Tiffany Lopez, co-curator of the Art Market event. “There’s a whole creative community here—we just need to put it on display.”

“What sets this event apart is how it brings together people from all different backgrounds,” added fellow co-curator Emily Villatoro. “It really highlights the diversity of our community.”

Monday, July 28: At Las Brisas, six red picnic tables stretched across the patio—four of which were covered in striking images for “Photography Night.” As traffic rolled past and plates were passed around, Madison Lillman and Art Week event organizer, Walter F. Rodriguez spoke to an attentive crowd of 20.

6:05 p.m.

“I had a lot of personal things going on that were hard to talk about,” said Madison Lillman, a Mount Olive High School junior. “I figured portraying them through art would be easier.”

“I enjoy teaching photography,” said event organizer Walter F. Rodriguez. “I think it’s a great way to learn how to see the world in a new light.”

6:52 p.m.

“You can take a photo in a local park that looks like it was captured in an exotic locale,” said Rodriguez.  “It’s all about learning to see the beauty in the ordinary.”

Tuesday, July 29: Fonda El Patrón sponsored “Comics and Graphic Novel Night” drew twenty people who settled in white chairs and booths facing four artists at a red-draped table covered with comic books and prints, featuring Joe Kubert alumni and staff. As they leaned in to look closer, ice clinked in glasses and the scent of herbs and carne asada filled the room.

6:32 p.m

“I always feel like there's things to improve on,” said illustrator Raymond Negron, creator of the “Drawn to Dover” comic in DOVERNOW. “I’ll probably be on my deathbed saying, ‘I’ve got a couple more good sketches left in me,’” said Negron, met with laughter from the crowd.

6:46 p.m.

“I gotta prove Joe right,” said illustrator John Torkos, an alumnus and instructor at the legendary Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, reflecting on a moment that’s driven his art ever since Kubert told him in 2012, “You can draw comics.”

"I refuse to be a product of my environment,” said illustrator Casey Cruz. “The media I consumed—anime, manga, TV shows, movies—that’s what got me through. So I knew I had to become that voice for someone else."

Wednesday, July 30: A live band set the tone outside sponsor Bassett Pub, where 60 people gathered for “Sculpture Night.” As the scent of fried food and cigarette smoke hung in the thick, humid air, Jennifer Stevens carved a watermelon into a shark. Behind her, sculptor Mark Megaro built an eight-foot-by-eight-foot rope-and-stick dreamcatcher frame, encouraging audience members to add personal creations.

6:22 p.m. 

“We need a giant dreamcatcher,” Megaro said. “I have no real idea where it’s gonna go, but you’re all involved.”

“I think it’s great to see the community coming together,” said Ashley Corson, a Mount Olive resident. “These people are actually out there working together… I thought they were gonna have individual projects.”

6:56 p.m.

“I’ve been carving watermelons for probably about 20 years at least now,” Stevens said. “I saw a YouTube video—somebody carving flowers on a watermelon—and one year later, it stuck.”

Friday, Aug. 1:  “Student Art Night”, sponsored by host Sabor Latino, drew 30 people to the tent-covered patio. String lights, yellow walls, and the scent of spices filled the elegant scene. A waitress moved between tables displaying student art, as five artists shared their work and stories.

6:27 p.m.

Nicole Rodriguez, a junior at Dover High School, called creating art a therapeutic release. “I like how quickly I can release my emotions,” she said. “It’s the safest way that I can cope without harming myself or others.”

7:04 p.m.

Four recent Dover High grads—Arayeisi Maldonado, Angeles Gandhi, Amanda Moraga, and 

Jaime Huang—shared creative ambitions. Maldonado and Gandhi, a CCM freshman, hope to channel their interest in the culinary arts by opening bakeries. “I want to make desserts that reflect my Mexican culture,” Maldonado, a freshman at Johnson & Wales University, said. 

“I see art as a sort of escape,” said Moraga, a freshman at Fairleigh Dickinson University. “When I’m not feeling well, I draw something. It helps ground me.… Being creative is not just about art. It’s about thinking outside of the box, even with problems.” 

Saturday, Aug. 2: JFK Park was a blank canvas for “Art in the Park,” sponsored by the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health with a special contribution from The F.M. Kirby Foundation via Life Center Stage. Warm sunlight and lively music set the tone for a vibrant event. Kids and adults filled the sidewalk with bright chalk drawings, while three painters worked in real time, filling the park with color and laughter.

12:22 p.m. 

“I did this event last year, but it was different. It was literally on the wall,” said artist Dante Cousins, known as “Street Dreams.” “I preferred it that way. It was bigger and I could spray paint it.”

“I participated last year, but I haven’t done too many live painting events,” said Dover-based painter Margaret Grzynkowski. “My painting this year is going to be a nod to the tropical culture of Dover. I’m going to make a pattern from guava and passion fruit.”

1:17 p.m.

Grzynkowski credits her passion for pattern to her childhood experiences with her father, a textile artist. “I grew up going into the city with him, subconsciously soaking in color and pattern,” she said. “That’s where my love of pattern comes from. When I'm not doing this, I'm a henna artist as well. So everything I touch has to do with color and pattern.”

“This is my first year,” said artist Katie Pederson, a Dover High School art teacher. “I’m working on a painting of the Opera House on Blackwell Street.”

 Saturday, August 2:  The “Basement Bash” at the Richards Building, sponsored by West Morris Capital, filled the space with 30 tables showcasing a range of artistic mediums. The air smelled of clay, paint, and food from Margarita’s Bar & Grill, while a DJ and live bands played as more than 100 people moved among the artists.

7:45 p.m.

Dover Mayor James P. Dodd emphasized the town’s commitment to supporting local creatives: “Young people today communicate through their art. The art that is important to you is important to us.”

“Back in my twenties, there was a great art renaissance called the Blackwell Street Gallery — it lasted a decade or two and it was incredibly exciting,” said Patrick Gallagher, Wharton resident. “This feels like that. Things have life; they come and go. And this feels like it’s coming.”

“People here are trying to improve the town in their own ways,” said artist Diego Rivas. “The diversity is what makes it special.”

8:35 p.m.

“I graduated as an art teacher, and we believe that everybody can create art,” said Luis Martinez from Mine Hill. “Looking around the room, there are so many creative people in the Dover area.”