Come all ye fools!

Jamie Arabolos, a former subject of the “Iron Painter” competition, holds the Ideat Village mascot, “Galvin.”

The Ideat Village

June 12-June 27. Pitkin Plaza, 141 Orange St.; Millenium Plaza (Court and Orange streets); Orbit, 118 Court St. ideatvillage.org.

Who owns art?

Who should sponsor it?

Who’s it for?

These age-old questions about the purpose of creative and expressive activity fuel the Ideat Village Festival. In it’s ninth year, the Festival is held, somewhat antagonistically, during the same week (June 12-June 27) as the International Arts & Ideas Festival. In fact, as painter, performer, provocateur and prankster — and Festival founder — Bill Saunders proudly states: Ideat runs a day longer than A&I.

Ideat Village began in 2002 and, Saunders says, though the first few years directed its in-your-face attitude at the well-funded A&I Festival for well-heeled audiences, Ideat has come into its own right, independent and participatory.

Held in three primary locations — Pitkin Plaza, 141 Orange St.; Millenium Plaza, Court and Orange streets (behind City Hall); and in Orbit, a gallery space at 118 Court St. — Ideat Village promotes expression as a community event. Nothing is juried and there’s no entry fee or admission charge, and no government hand-outs paying big administrative salaries. Support comes entirely from the community that wants the events to happen — about $3,000 pays for it all — via fund-raisers and donations of time, equipment and know-how.

Knowing, for instance, that it only costs $35 to get a permit for an event in a public space in New Haven. After that, it’s simply a matter of rallying the local talent and taking it to the streets. As Saunders says, Ideat is “the real deal,” true to its root idea: to celebrate the beauty of what New Haven is really like. It’s not a festival for spectators, it’s a festival for participants. Everyone is urged to join in.

On Opening Day (June 12), Orbit Art Gallery hosts a “Bring Yer Own Art” event. From 12-7 p.m., hang on the walls and place in the space whatever you think is art. Free, unjuried, uncensored, it’s only as good as you make it. Opening reception begins at 8 p.m., but Orbit will be accepting art throughout the festival, so if you can’t get it together by the 12th, never fear. Bring it on!

Everyone gets a say at Pitkin Plaza on June 12 from 2-6 p.m. You can “Grab the Mic” and sound off. Hosted by Najjar and Baub Bidon with DJ You B spinning. Speak it solo or get with a strolling musician to put some sound behind you. Street poets amaze!

Or maybe you’re the silent, artsy type — join in the “Ideat Village Aerosol Event,” 2-6 p.m. at Pitkin. Vinyl will wrap the plaza as the ground for whatever the nozzles unleash. Since this will be in public view for the full two weeks, please spray responsibly. We’re all neighbors here. Check out the scrap-metal version of Michelangelo’s famed David arrayed in colors that’d make a harlequin happy. Spraypainted at an earlier “Aerosol Event,” it remains as Ideat Village’s contribution to our fair city.

And while all this is going on, Millenium Plaza will host concerts by bands working a variety of styles, featuring Dog Hunch, a salute to ’70s Miles Davis; The Skamatix, a setlist linking Bob Marley and Coltrane says it all; Mayhem Circus Electric improvs with deep grooves and original melodies, with some familiar strains in the mix; The Harris Brothers Balkan Band boasts the passionate harmonies and rhythms of Balkan Roma Style Gypsy Folk; As The Rocket Fell, a work for guitars and drums that asks the musical question: How do you avoid a rocket, like the V2, that you can’t hear until after it falls? Tyrone Slothrop might have an answer for that one. (Rain date for the outdoor events is June 13.)

Ideat is about art and expression, but it also plays with popular consciousness with a series of events spoofing participatory TV. On June 15, at Olde School Saloon & Bistro (418 State St.) from 9 p.m.-1 a.m., come to the “American Ideat Tryout,” Round 1 — charm the snide judges with your performance and be one of six lucky contestants on the way to the finals. Who will wear the coveted dunce cap when it’s all over? On June 16, at Pitkin from 7-10 p.m., a series of judged events, hosted by gender-bender Robin Banks: “Project Walkway” lets you indulge your fashionista flair and turn trash to flash with DIY creations of whatever comes to hand; “Iron Painter” sets up a live subject and assigns a medium — see what you can “do with it” in 45 minutes; and with a live band in the plaza, Round 2 of “American Ideat” will add six more finalists to next week’s competition. And on June 17, Anna Liffey’s (17 Whitney Ave.) screens Friends (With Benefits), indie filmmaker Gorman Bechard’s study of the havoc that ensues when lifelong friends, Chloe and Owen, decide to become sex partners, “a thinking person’s romantic comedy” filmed entirely in New Haven. At 8 and 10 p.m.

On June 24, the Advocate hosts a night of live bands, including the Cavemen Go, A Paper Tugboat, Weird Beards, with Polly Sonic’s Fiery Circus and Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School sideshows in Pitkin Plaza. The tunes continue June 25 in Pitkin with psychedelic funk from the Stepkids (with light projections!), Etta Place and DJ Babies and more. On June 26, a street festival extravaganza takes over Pitkin and Millenium plazas. Come all ye fools!

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Bill Saunders  - You forgot about my other half......     |2010-06-09 13:35:42 You can never credit me as founder, only co-founder. Without Nancy Shea, my partner in crime in this sordid affair, this festival would fall flat. Reply 1   0

Jamie Arabolos  - I'm an Ideat     |2010-06-09 21:31:44 I was surprised to find a photo of me from last year in this weeks Advocate! Ideat Village is goin' strong and takin' names! Reply 1   0

Olivia  - Rude   |2010-06-10 20:30:56 I think that it is incredibly rude for an organization to judge another organization, both of which are trying to accomplish a greater goal. International Festival of Arts & Ideas flies in entertainers from across the world, and it is impossible for them to do so without proper funding. It is in the greater interests for the community and outsiders to have such cultural opportunities. There is no reason to snub their festival. If you want to hold your festival at the same times (one day longer, as you so tastefully put it), it is your own business. Perhaps it would be in the best interests of the public to not hold the festivals simultaneously, but one after the other. If your number one goal is to provide a cultural experience, don't you think that might be better? Rather than just trying to be a rivalry festival? It seems to me that you are stating one motive, but you're servicing another. Reply 2   2

a real new haven citizen   |2010-06-10 20:56:56 Olivia.... judging by your name I am assuming your a W.A.S.P, yuppie elite scumbag, enjoy your elitist arts and idea festival while the true blue collar citizens enjoy ideat village Reply 0   2

Bill Saunders  - Shit, are we in Kansas Again????   |2010-06-10 21:22:48 Olivia, We represent a real community, not a manufactured one. Why should the state fund this festival on a multi-million dollar level -- most of the international performances have high ticket prices, and happen behind closed doors. If everything were free and open to the public, I might have a more lenient stance, but as it stands now Arts and Ideas is little more than welfare for the rich and connected. Is local talent somehow not good enough for you? Do you want to be a spectator at an event, or a participant in vibrant, emerging art scene? Bring some art down to Ideat Village this weekend. Hang out. See whats going on. Meet the vibrant cast of characters that make our local art scene. It is a diversity we embrace. Judge for yourself. Everything is FREE. And right in our own backyard....... Bill Saunders Ideat Village Reply 1   1

William Shakespeare  - popular entertainer   |2010-06-11 23:32:20 Ah Olivia, What's in a name? A rose by any name, blah blah blah.... I wouldn't know how to judge you by your name but I googled it anyway. It seems you might be a lesbian cruise ship line (with no use for a scumbag) or a cute children's book character or a genuine African-American hip hop chanteuse, not necessarily yuppie or wasp. Besides, yuppies and wasps can be outsiders and rebels and rockers too or at least appreciators of their artworks and graffiti and rhythmic wailing et cetera. I wouldn't take these punkish posturings too seriously, and I wouldn't worry about one festival harming another. Counterprogramming festivals is smart. All the A&I advertising and festivities (many of which of course are free or cheap tickets) get folks out and about and this makes more audience available for the Ideaot Village and it works the other way too. Many fans of the local festival will also find time to get some imported arts and ideas too. When things are happening things are happening! I'm bringing some things down to the Orbit Gallery (under another name of course)because it's a happening show where the elite meet Joes off the street! Reply 4   0

Shaggy   |2010-06-12 13:58:20 I see you don't live here as then you would know that the "Townies" have been SNUBBED from this festival as outcasts and the local art was deemed not worthy and "not what Art & Ideas had envisioned for their festival" so much like what the political machine does here. The arts & Ideas is another waste of usable $$ for the City, yes it is nice ' but the locals were outcasted and this is how we STAND UP FOR OURSELVES. Olivia, if that is your real name, present ye self for ye slap of the noggin. Reply 0   1

The real Olivia   |2010-06-12 14:03:33 How dare you use my name. What is your last name Ms. Olivia? Don't hide behind the internet. Damn right wingers. Betcha didn't want the Gay parade either, ya Prude Reply 0   1

Logician   |2010-06-13 13:29:41 So we're going to pick a fight over one line in this article? A line that describes what Ideat Village *used* to be? It's a celebration of the phenomenal local talent that may still have some rough edges. I attend Ideat Village events, and I attend Arts & Ideas events. They're all awesome, they all make me proud of our city. Reply 3   0

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