Almost Fringe returns to Point Arena 2025
April 3 @ 11:00 am - April 27 @ 4:00 pm
Almost Fringe Festival returns to Point Arena By Rozann Grunig
The unusual, the bizarre, just a bit whacky, maybe even shocking – that’s what the Almost Fringe Festival is all about. Join the members of the Coast Highway Art Collective in Point Arena for a celebratory opening reception of this fun and free-form event on Saturday, April 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Collective is hosting music and exhibiting new works by Collective members. Although the opening is set to coincide with Almost Fringe Festivals around the globe, the exhibit will be available for viewing at CHAC from April 3 to April 27.
Loosely based on the International fringe art movement, Mendocino County celebrates this as a month-long festival at several venues to celebrate all of the creative happenings countywide, from traditional to cutting edge and artsy to agrarian.
The original Fringe Festival is held annually in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the largest art festival in the world. This festival spans 25 days and includes events in 294 venues in the following categories theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, children’s shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions and events.
Locally, the festival is being promoted by the Point Arena Merchants Association. The goal of the festival is to have a culturally diverse festival that reflects the complexity of our amazing community. Local merchants and restaurants will be participating to create a fun and engaging festival street scene.
“Almost Fringe is my favorite event each year,” says collective member Rozann Grunig. The object is to create art that comes from the heart and the mind, regardless of the commercial value. As artists, we spend too much time assessing if a piece we are creating will sell. The pieces we envision for Almost Fringe are for fun, relevance, emotions and the sheer joy of creating.”
The Coast Highway Art Collective is joining into the festivities with artists Paula Rie Bonham, handmade greeting cards; James Docker, wood wall art; Linda Green, ceramics; Jeannie Haydon, metal wall sculpture; Perry Hoffman, ceramic and photography; Emma Hurley, ceramics & clothing; Ling-Yen Jones, jewelry; Kirk McCarthy, jewelry; Jacqueline Mooney, Wild Fire Fusion, Glass; Cindy Morey, photography; Shawn Quinlan, quilts; Siobhan, silk scarves; Neno Villamor, paper clay cards; Carol Williams, sculpture and jewelry. Other collective members will also have new and interesting pieces on exhibit in the spirit of the festival theme.
Live music is provided by Black Sugar Rose from 12 to 2 p.m. and Bard of a Feather from 2 to 4 p.m. Meet the artists and learn more about Almost Fringe and the collective during the opening reception.
The Coast Highway Art Collective is located at 284 Main St., Point Arena, the little red building with the big yellow sun, located next to the Redwood Coast Credit Union. Regular hours are Thursday through Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm. and Sundays by appointment. Visit the website at www.coast-highway-artists.com for information about the collective’s artists, upcoming events and how to join. To find out more about becoming a member of the Collective or to schedule a Sunday visit, contact Ling-Yen Jones at 707-884-9153 or via the website above