Thursday, October 1, 2026
On a bright, sunny day, Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center hosted its High Tea & Art Sale event for Freeport residents and local artists on the Nautical Mile.
The event took place at Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center on March 21 and March 22 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. This two-day event featured around three artists specializing in various media, including graphic designers, jewelry artists, visual artists and many more.
The event acts as publicity for the artist, featuring them on social media and showcasing their artwork. Each artwork was available for purchase at the event.
Freda Walzer, treasurer at Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center, stated that the inspiration for this event was to auction donated art pieces and showcase local artists, utilizing available display space.
Walzer pointed out that the artists were chosen through a call for artists and existing connections with the space. She also said that one of the challenges of organizing this event as a non-profit was coordinating with various people.
“As always, with a nonprofit we're always working with, like we're working with a lot of different people, creating this event really was spearheaded by us,” said Walzer. “And I think the one thing that we just want to do is get all the news out there, and we always want more people to know about what's going on.”
Wendy Garfield, an American Society of Interior Designers associate and award-winning designer and one of the artists showcasing her creations, shared her passion and inspiration for creating new and unique pieces. She stated that her creative journey began with her daughter.
Garfield explained her preference for old-fashioned design and for the signature elements that add something special to each piece. As an example, she mentioned a piece worn with a brooch, highlighting the unique touch in every creation. She described her creative process as “just timeless,” emphasizing the time and attention to detail that go into each piece.
Garfield stated the challenge of designing pieces that appeal to people and are suitable for everyday wear.
“I would say the challenge is figuring out what to make that is going to appeal to people, that they're going to want to wear it,” said Garfield. “I like wearing jewelry, you know, every day, so for me it's not just a special occasion, but it looks like most of my stuff is, though I would encourage people to dress it up anyway.”
Garfield advises young artists to experiment with various materials, such as natural stones and clay, or to make their own beads. She emphasized the importance of playing around to enhance their creativity.
Another artist showcased their artwork was Brian Testa. His artworks are inspired by the local community and environment, incorporating colors and textures from nature.
Testa described his creative process as discovering and connecting with the nature and the energy of the place. He stated that most of his paintings are done on-site, which is also known as plein air painting.
As most of his paintings are done outdoors, according to Testa, the challenges he faced were strong winds that affected art supplies and canvases, and maintaining the right mindset to capture the environment accurately.
“I would encourage students in school always to be drawing and to take extra art classes and after school, and to really just focus on following their dreams, their style, and looking at other artists and just exploring what they like to do.”
Testa emphasized the importance of using art to connect and bring people together. “I think, just overall, really focusing on using art as a tool to communicate and bring everyone together,” he said. “That's what I'm all about through my art. So, the paintings themselves almost serve as a photograph of the memory of experiencing the culture, people, and location.”
Arti Grover, a 94-year-old sculptor, has also donated a few of her works to this art sale. However, she was unable to attend the event in person.
Walzer noted that while the event format might change in the future, quarterly events featuring local artists are planned to continue using the space effectively.
