Elmwood Village ArtFest returns this weekend

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The annual Elmwood Village ArtFest kicked off on Saturday. It's the second time the Elmwood Village Association (EVA) is putting on the event.

Therese Deutschlander, the president of the EVA board of directors, helped organize this weekend's celebration after it had major success last year.

One of the main missions of the EVA is to promote local arts in the community and this event is one of the perfect places to do so.

"It means so much to the small businesses when you support them and local artists are small businesses," Deutschlander said. "It's a lot of work, but the fact that you get to meet them is great. You're not going to get that at Target."

While the event is an art festival, it's not just typical drawings and paintings on display. A lot of Western New Yorkers have taken their own spin on traditional art to fit their own personalities.

"I love glass," said Joan Cofield-Bridges, owner of L&J Creations. "Glass is just a three-dimensional piece that is just so functional but also beautiful when you add color to it."

For the last 19 years, Cofield-Bridges has been hand painting items you would traditionally see on your dinner table. She adds floral designs to wine glasses, plates, bowls and even vases, just to name a few. She said in today's economy, it's so important for people to shop local. 

"This is our lifeline," Cofield-Bridges said. "This is our bread and butter. This is how me make our living."

Other artists WIVB News 4 spoke to said inspiration really comes from the world around them. For Buffalo artist Sabi, he said he uses things from his early childhood to connect with the younger generation.

"Daily cartoons, regular real-life situations, from playing outside with your friends on the playground," Sabi said. "That's just how we treat Earth. We treat it like we're just having fun, playing around."

The festival runs through Sunday. You can see all of the artists' work from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.