The Lower Highlands Historic Downtown Neighborhood Association held its fourth annual "Arts Around the Block" event along Purchase Street on September 20, 2009. Over 30 local artists and craftspeople set up booths and exhibits along two blocks of Purchase Street from Franklin to Cherry Streets on a beautiful late summer day. Musical performances included the Buggies rock band and classical flute music under the Elms by Laura Conrad of the Fipple Fluters. Dance performances by the Loralee's Dance Studio, the Goddess Coyle Belly Dance Troupe and the Spindle City Ballet were held on the lawn of the Congregational Church. The event was entirely free and included lots of hands-on events for children, including sidewalk chalk drawing and face painting. A free lunch was offered to participating artists by the Children In Balance program. To see pictures of last year's event, click here.  For more information about the event or the Neighborhood Association, contact Steve Camara at 508-678-1463.
 

(Top row, left) Local film and video artist Paul Martin of Fire City Pictures talks with Christopher Blake and Brian Shriver of Aerial VR images in Swansea. (Top row, center) Annette Bibeau and Rose Carvalho look at a painting held up by artist Cathy Furtado. (Top row, right) Kuss Middle School art teacher Sondra Arnold talks with Nicole Ferreira and Alayne Frederick. (Middle row, left) Barbara Mello helps Ben Mohr with an art project at the Fall River Children's Museum table. (Middle row, center) Dancers from the Loralee's Dance Studio perform on the lawn of the First Congregational Church. (Middle row, right) Nicole Desrosiers tries her hand at chalk art on the Purchase Street pavement. (Bottom row, left) Volunteers Doreen Bain and Leslie Stern get a hug from Lower Highlands Historic Downtown Neighborhood Association co-chair Steven Camara. (Bottom row, center) Adeline Davis and Terry Berard look over craft items created by Regina McLaughlin and Brenda LePage of Towne House. (Bottom row, right) Lisa Botelho looks over paintings with her son, Colin, and husband, Carl, of Fall River.