Local artists, their work, and live music will be featured Saturday on Portage Avenue in Three Rivers.

The fourth annual Art on Main will take place from 12-6 p.m. Seventeen artist booths are expected for Art on Main, a collaboration between volunteer and Three Rivers Artists Guild member Lisa DeVine and the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority.

“In the past, we’ve blocked off Main Street, but this year, we’re using Portage Avenue instead,” DeVine said. “That way, we won’t impede traffic to businesses, and you can still enjoy Art on Main.”

Saturday’s event is expected to include artists in the fields of painting, woodturning, pottery, photography, jewelry, metal sculpting, and more. Music will likely be performed for the first few hours.

“It’s about bringing people downtown and enabling them to be able to buy art from local artists. There is an opportunity for artists to both make some money and get their work out there,” DeVine said.

DDA Executive Director Cameron Mains said he is most excited about continuing to give a platform to local artists.

“Every year, we allow artists to come to downtown Three Rivers and share unique pieces of art while also allowing people to come to town and see artists and their work. We’re showcasing the talent here in Three Rivers. It really is stunning to see the different varieties of art, and great to see the local talent,” Mains said.

Like DeVine, Mains hopes that visitors are interested in shopping.

“I hope they’ll be able to take a piece of the event home with them,” Mains said. “I hope that they purchase local art to decorate their homes with or give as gifts. They can say, ‘That piece was made by a local artist.’”

Art on Main furthers the DDA’s shared vision for Three Rivers, Mains explained.

“The whole town is welcome to come and share in the creativity,” he said. “We want them to gain appreciation of the unique downtown we have. We want to make it a place where people are creating memories with their families. For generations to come, we want downtown to be seen as a place where we can come together as a community.”

Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.