Thousands flock to sprawling festival in downtown Princeton
By: Hilary Parker
A quick read of thousands of people who flooded the streets of Princeton at Saturday’s Communiversity 2006 as they wandered amongst booths and from stage to stage (to stage to stage this year’s celebration boasted four) made two things quite clear.
Communiversity is always in style.
And, apparently, all styles are in at Communiversity.
Take for instance, Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand’s orange-and-black Princeton scarf paired with her Princeton Township baseball cap. The combination would have been a fashion "don’t" anywhere else, but last weekend it perfectly matched the town-gown nature of the celebration.
Princeton Borough Mayor Mildred Trotman’s warm pink blouse was a perfect complement to the gorgeous spring day and daddies wearing children on their shoulders (a functional fashion statement) were out in force.
Complete with gray paint and draping fabric, Princeton University Class of 2007 student Jane McClintock’s statue costume and street performance paired nicely with Communiversity 2006’s return to its roots as a festival of the arts.
"What we wanted to do is really look at giving the arts a front and center part in this community festival," said Jeff Nathanson, director of The Arts Council of Princeton.
The Arts Council began the Communiversity tradition over two decades ago under the leadership of its founder, Anne Reeves, and jointly sponsors the tradition each year with the students of Princeton University. The Arts Council’s booth itself complete with an Andy Warhol soup can game, Jasper Johns-inspired target practice and Nana’s Make-A-Mess watercolor workshop helped young and old alike create colorful memories.
Kids were making a mess not just with watercolor paints, but with chocolate sauce and whipped cream that they happily threw at bare-chested Princeton University students, including Rob Bernstein, a sophomore from Tucson, Ariz. Along with his willing and good-natured classmates, Mr. Bernstein encouraged the youngsters to take their best shot in a pie toss organized to raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Last year, the booth raised over $900 for the charity, and the students were anything but stuck on staying clean.
"You have to shower for a little bit," Mr. Bernstein said of the de-chocolate-saucing process. "But it’s worth it."
For thousands of joyful visitors, the funnel cake, cotton candy and fried Oreos were worth it, too. Even ardent Atkins diet advocates could splurge, gnawing on giant barbecued turkey legs, and Triumph Brewing Company’s pulled pork sandwiches sated the heartiest of appetites.
The selection of performing artists was even more diverse than the tasty treats, and venues throughout town and on campus kept the show going for five hours straight. People danced in the streets to the Klez Dispensers’ American-style Klezmer music and gathered round to watch Princeton University capoeira members dance-fight to demonstrate their musical martial art.
Area youths took to the stage as well, much to the delight of onlookers who stopped in their tracks to watch and listen. Performances by the Princeton Girlchoir, Westminster Conservatory Youth Opera Workshop and Kamishibai Kidz, among others, showcased the young local talent, and more likely than not inspired even more children to flex their artistic muscles in the future.
Many of these children will return year after year, eager for the fun-filled day when town and gown unite. Take Shreya, for instance, a 4-year-old visitor who happily toiled away at a hat nearly bigger than she was at a booth run by Red Green Blue. She tore herself away from writing her name on the brim of her paper sombrero only briefly, but long enough to sum up what the thousands who enjoyed Communiversity 2006 will feel when spring rolls around next year.
"I couldn’t wait to come here," she said with a toothy grin, before turning her attention back to the important tasks at hand enjoying the day and celebrating the arts.