Wiscasset Art Walk gets food trucks!

Tue, 09/05/2017 - 6:30pm

The Wiscasset Art Walk on Aug. 31 was all it usually is, and more.

Along with the shops that line the main street with open doors, and the shop owners with open arms welcoming visitors inside (some offering a glass of wine, a bite and a featured artist), the always popular wine tasting at Treats, a crew of artists painting faces and live music, this art walk also featured two food trucks for the first time.

Art Walk organizer and coordinator Lucia Droby and Wiscasset Parks & Recreation Director Lisa Thompson were key in getting the trucks to Wiscasset. They approached the town to ask about the legalities of bringing mobile food trucks to town.

“It was no problem,” Droby said. “There are no rules for food trucks in Wiscasset. The only question was would it be safe, and would the mobile food vendors have insurance. The answer was yes, and yes.”

Droby said they were careful to not bring in food trucks that would compete with the established food merchants in the village, and she was excited about the two new additions to the art walk. “We have just cracked a new nut. There have never been professional food truck businesses here (at the art walk) before, as far as anybody can remember.”

Both vendors, who set up on a closed-off Middle Street, traveled with their mobile units and their wares, from South Portland.

Lucas Meyers was there with his O’Oysters cart serving fresh shucked oysters from Mook Oyster Farm, and El Rodeo Go! was serving hot tacos, burritos and other Mexican specialties. The family-owned business has had a restaurant in South Portland since 2013.

Also at the art walk, Nancy Roby, Linda Adams and the Rev. Josh Fitterling, of First Congregational Church of Wiscasset, were running a fun photo booth, offering free photos for anyone who wanted to dress in costumes and look silly.

Boston-based Luminarium Dance Co. members were in town performing their improvisational dance moves, and a new venue, in the form of garden art and sculpture, was set up in the stone and brick courtyard behind In the Clover, at 85A Main St. The exhibit was called Garden Art in the Courtyard, and it featured sculptures by Bryan Buck and John Fazzino and garden pieces from Sheepscot River Pottery.

DebraElizabeth's hosted Silver Pear Designs, with its silver and leather jewelry creations, and painter Nikki Pilgrim was at SHED Talk.

Printmaker Nancy Coleman, who has a studio in Damariscotta Mills, was the featured artist at BIRCH Home Furnishings & Gifts, with her watercolor etchings and handmade books that feature both her artwork and her writing. She also has miniature books made by her mother, Melissa Coleman.

Painter Carolyn Gabbe was at Midcoast Conservancy showing her large canvases, and there were new exhibits at Sylvan Gallery and Wiscasset Bay Gallery. Music at the event included a brass trio that performed in front of Ingram Gallery, harpist Suki Flanagan at Wiscasset Bay Gallery, and classical guitarist Jonathan Waldo performed at Kochan Art & Antiques.