Mystic Outdoor Art Festival
DOWNTOWN MYSTIC
SATURDAY, AUG. 13, 2022: 10 AM- 6 PM & SUNDAY, AUG. 14, 2022: 10 AM - 5 PM
SATURDAY, AUG. 13, 2022: 10 AM- 6 PM & SUNDAY, AUG. 14, 2022: 10 AM - 5 PM
Welcome to the 64th Annual Mystic Outdoor Art Festival!
Planned and executed by the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival is the oldest of its kind in the Northeast region, drawing thousands of people from around New England and beyond during this two day event.
As a juried art show, the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival serves an audience of discriminating art enthusiasts, as well as weekend visitors and residents from surrounding communities including Groton, New London, Waterford, and Southern Rhode Island.
The festival showcases over 200 artists from around the United States, with more than two miles of arts and crafts including oils, watercolors, photographs, pastels, sculpture, woodwork, comics, acrylics, and more. The Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, lovingly known as "MOAF", is a FREE event and features activities and artwork for all ages to enjoy, including a Children's Art Park located in Mystic River Park.
Emerging Artists
To participate as an Emerging Student Artist you must be no older than 25 years of age.
This year, the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce the return of our “Emerging Artist” initiative. The “Emerging Artists” category brings a unique opportunity to young artists to gain experience and exposure in one of the country’s largest juried art shows.
The GMCC recognizes that Art Shows of this caliber can by a costly and time consuming commitment, making it difficult for young, up & coming artists to participate. Through the “Emerging Artist” initiative, the application fee will be waived for student artists participating either solo or in conjunction with their school or university. While students will not be eligible to submit their artwork for jury review in the traditional award categories, students will be eligible to submit their work in the “Emerging Artist” Achievement Award .
With over 40,000 visitors attending this 2-day event, the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival is an incredible opportunity for young and aspiring artists to showcase and sell their work at a premiere event, meet and network with other artists, and gain both experience and exposure, while enjoying everything that downtown Mystic, CT has to offer.
2022 Mystic Outdoor Art Festival
2021-MOAF Program-PROOF.pdf
2021 Mystic Outdoor Art Festival Winning Artists
Category (Sponsor)
Best in Show (The Arling Family): David Winigrad
Robert Brackman Award (Noank Shipyard/Seaport Marine): Thomas Laraia
Beonne Beronda Award (Grover Insurance): Melody Consadine
Marion Tetlow Award (Block, Janney, Sisley, LLC): Mackenzie Shaughnessy
Milton Baline Award (Mohegan Sun): Roger DiTarando
Emerging Artist Achievement Award (Mystic Chamber Foundation): Sarah Woodward
Best of Paintings (Costello’s Clam Shack): Robert Blazek
Best of Painting (Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough): Susan Grisell
Best of Mixed Media (Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce): Richard Borden
Best of Illustration/Graphics (R&B Apparel): Betsy Barry
Best of Pastels (Sales Up 4 Cancer): Robin Frisella
Best of Photography (Pochal & Pochal Law): David Siecziewicz
Best of Sculpture (Mark & Heather Somers): Tim Cromarty
Best of Watercolor (Simply Majestic): Jackie Maloney
Fine Crafts (Sponsored by the Katherine Forest Crafts Foundation)
Teddy Goberis Award for Excellence in Ceramics: Christine Lush- Rodriguez & Amee Hussey
Louise Forest Gibson Prize: Michael Radigan & Rebecca Grills
Mabel Kingsbury Fentress Prize: Katie Strano & Janey Harrington
Joseph Gualtieri Prize: Paul Miller & Sean Macdonald
Alice Clark Hubbard Prize: John Lee & Chelsea Bird
Art Show Route
Performing Arts
The Mystic Outdoor Arts Festival is proud to add a Performing Arts Stage to this year's event! The Performing Arts Stage will be located on the Village Green at Mystic Seaport Museum, and feature a variety of local and regional performers including, dance, music, and theater. Performances will run from 6:30 PM to approximately 8:30 PM on Friday, August 13th, and Saturday, August 14th, rain or shine. Admission is free, BYO lawn chairs or blankets, refreshments will be available for purchase, no coolers please.
Performer Lineup
Friday, August 13th
Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra - String Quartet
Chinese Ladies Dance Group - Cultural Dance
Mystic Paper Beasts - Masked Theatre
Klezmenschen - Klezmer Band
We Don’t Own a Dog Dance, Curated by David Dorfman - Post-Modern Dance
Arthur Migliazza - Boogie-Woogie Piano
The Ballad of Captain Kidd - Musical Theatre
Saturday, August 14th
Connecticut Lyric Opera - Opera Company
AMA Dance Theatre- Dance Theatre
The Imbible Trio - Jazz Vocals
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation - Cultural Dance
Pirates and Shanties - Musical Theatre
Emerging Student Artists Program
With the addition of the “Emerging Artist” category in the 61st Annual Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, we are continuing this unique opportunity for student artists to gain experience and exposure in one of the country’s largest juried art shows.
The GMCC recognizes that art shows of this caliber can by a costly and time consuming commitment, making it difficult for young, up & coming artists to participate. Through the “Emerging Artist” initiative, the application fee will be waived for student artists participating either solo or in conjunction with their school or university. While students will not be eligible to submit their artwork for jury review in the traditional award categories, students will be eligible to submit their work in the “Emerging Artist” Achievement Award.
With over 85,000 visitors attending this two day event, the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival is an incredible opportunity for young and aspiring artists to showcase and sell their work at a premiere event, meet and network with other artists, and gain both experience and exposure, while enjoying everything that downtown Mystic, CT has to offer.
Children's Art Park
If your family is planning on attending the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, our Children's Art Park located in Mystic Seaport Museum Shipyard is a must-visit. Local businesses & nonprofit organizations throughout the Mystic, Connecticut region provide entertainment and contribute materials for a variety of arts & crafts projects to keep your children happy and busy throughout the weekend. Children of all ages can participate in these free, hands-on activities and become their own artist for the day!
Popsicle Art
Circle Starbursts
Collage Creations
Decoupage Shells
Children's Art Installation
The Children's Art Installation is back at this years 63rd Mystic Outdoor Art Festival!
Come and visit “Lets Have a Conversation”- an art installation created by students ages 4–21. Each painted chair invites participants to be mindful of all the many issues and challenges our world has been facing over the past year. From ocean pollution, to Black Lives Matter, to politics, and deforestation. Each piece represents an opportunity to sit and engage in a conversation about the topics that weigh heavy on the minds of artists, young and old alike.
Thank You to Our 2021 Mystic Outdoor Art Festival Sponsors!
Meet the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival Committee!
SHANNONFINAL.movB. Flax Interview MOAF 2021.mp42021 Mystic Outdoor Art Festival Committee
The Mystic Outdoor Art Festival - MOAF - committee assists the GMCC in the planning and execution of the oldest outdoor art festival of its kind in New England and showcases over 230 artists, with more than two miles of arts and crafts including oils, watercolors, photographs, pastels, sculpture, woodwork, comics, acrylics, and more.
Amanda Arling, The Whaler's Inn Anthony Caporale, Broadway Theater Studio
Matt Beaudoin, Mystic Knotwork Susan Fisher, Mystic Museum of Art
Bruce Flax, GMCC Edwin Ivey, GMCC
Morgan Yandow, GMCC Bill Furgueson, ARC Eastern Connecticut
Show your support for this iconic downtown Mystic event and become a patron of the arts today! Your support helps us in continuing our mission to bring a wide range of unique and diverse art and artisanal crafts to the greater Mystic community.