Benton Harbor’s Riverfest continues to take shape for the first weekend of August. Organizers say two local artists will join forces to create a multimedia art piece symbolizing the unity of the communities of Benton Harbor and St. Joe, live at Riverfest. The piece, titled, ‘Art Unites’ will feature the bold painting styles of Benton Harbor painter Jessica Hightower and the unique quilling style of St. Joseph based artist Miranda Skibbe. At the conclusion of Riverfest the piece will be dedicated to the City of Benton Harbor and displayed in Benton Harbor City Hall for the next year.
“I’m grateful to be a part of this project and very happy to be working with another local artist. Our community is so full of artists, I really want to see more and more projects like this happen,” says Hightower.
Skibbe adds, “I’m always proud to be a part of this community. Expressing it with my art work is a new high. I am honored to be working with Jessica.”
Also added to the event will be a KitchenAid tent with live cordless hand mixer, and hand blender demos plus their new pastry beater accessory for the famous stand mixer. They will also be giving away a cordless suite of appliances.
Riverfest takes place August 6 & 7 at Charles Yarborough Park at 880 Riverview Drive. The event features 28 area artists booths, food vendors, a 5K, circus camps for kids, and area non-profit booths.
Music performances will take place throughout the event featuring Friday night headliner Niki Haris, a nationally sought-after performer and Benton Harbor native who toured with Madonna and was featured in the movie ‘Truth or Dare’. Saturday nights featured performer will be regional favorite, The Andrew Fisher Quartet. Supporting acts include Work in Progress, Sankofa, St. Joe Jack, Erick Fisher Saxophonist, the Midwest’s number one Michael Jackson impersonator, Rico Hampton, Sci Fi Radio and teen rapper Zha Zha.
Two non-profits will benefit from beer and wine sales for this event. Neighbors Organizing Against Racism is a Benton Harbor based non-profit dedicated to bridging the divide between communities created by what organizers term “the myth of race and the effects of systemic racism.” The AFrican AMErican History & Literature Gallery Museum in Benton Harbor is dedicated to preserving art and literature by African Americans and currently working with Saint Joseph Arts & Culture Social Justice Group to erect monuments of Martin Luther King, Jr. in both St. Joseph and Benton Harbor.
Riverfest is sponsored by the Whirlpool Corporation, Honor Credit Union, Lake Michigan College, The Minority Contractors of Benton Harbor, Signature Automotive and Dealer Group, Happy Poochie Eatery, Silver Beach Pizza, and Benton Harbor’s Power 105.1. This event is made possible through the City of Benton Harbor.
