Sun, art enhance first Audio Scenery festival

Shirtless and barefoot, Travis Puntarelli built up a running start before hurdling six wooden chairs and then joining the band onstage at Audio Scenery’s arts festival in Dunn Meadow on Saturday.

“It was perfect and exactly what I wanted,” Audio Scenery founder Mckenzie Earley said. “There were all kinds of art, and people were dancing everywhere, which is the best part of any show.”

The event played host to dancers, sunbathers, body painters, potters, Hula-Hoopers, tight ropers, Frisbee throwers, dog walkers and music lovers.

“Everyone looked happy,” junior Caren Charles said. “People have to become aware of this because it’s simply awesome.”

Charles said she was prompted to come to the event through an email invitation and told to bring her easel. Though she didn’t come equipped, Charles said she still enjoyed listening to live music and body painting.

“I loved hearing Charlie Patton’s War,” Charles said. “They were awesome, and then, of course, I loved having my friends there and painting on them.”

Earley had her shoulders and back covered in swirls of color by Charles and said the paint helped protect her from sunburn. Many others joined in until it seemed almost half of the attendees had a bit of paint on them.

“We were all lucky to have such a beautiful day,” junior Anne Crecelius said, covered in smudges from painting others. “It’s not every day you can come out and enjoy the weather wearing just a bathing suit top. It’s amazing.”

The event was the first of a festival series sponsored by Audio Scenery with a mission to provide a collaborative effort of dancing, art and music to support charities and the Bloomington arts community.

In its debut, Audio Scenery raised money for Bloomington’s Boys and Girls Club in a battle of the bands, donation style. Winners of the competition included first place band Elephant Quiz, second place The Mundies and third place Clouds as Oceans.

“We made a good amount,” Earley said. “But in the future I want to rework how we get people to contribute in order to give more to the causes.”

Charles said she hopes the event organizers will expand their publicity, including a massive sidewalk chalking. Earley said she would like to invite more of the community to partake in the next event, set for Sept. 17.

Bloomington High School South senior Jared Brosmer came with his friend to showcase his ceramics and said he supports the idea of expanding into the community.

“Bloomington’s art scene is very diverse and to incorporate as many people and genres as possible would be a great thing,” Brosmer said.

Brosmer said he heard about Audio Scenery from a local arts advocate that came to his school. Brosmer said as an aspiring IU arts management major, he was excited to be a part of the event and thinks it should definitely be something that students take advantage of next semester.

“It’s a great idea and I know it’s really going to grow into something,” Brosmer said. “I can see it being something good in the future and I think it’ll help a lot of people.”