First Dinner and Arts on Main ‘a success'

Organizers of the inaugural Dinner and Arts on Main Street, which took place Saturday at Centennial Park, say they are hopeful the event will return come 2013.   

Modeled after Dîner en Blanc — the “dinner in white” — in Paris, a pop-up picnic of sorts, the event drew more than 200 people to downtown Porterville.

“It was such a success, we feel very confident there will be a second annual event,” said Deborah Sierra, director of membership and special events with the Porterville Chamber of Commerce.

The night consisted of musical performances by the Porterville Unified School District’s Harmonix Orchestra, the Mariachi Academy and Jim Kusserow and dance performances by the Tule River Tribe dancers. There was also plenty of art from various galleries on display, these included paintings, photography and sculptures. Attendees took their own dinner and refreshments, blankets, and chairs and assembled at the park where they savored the night.

Sierra said that for a first-time event that was not too publicized and that was carried out with a minimal amount of money, she felt it was very successful.

“We did this basically with no money. None of the performers were paid to come, the art galleries brought their own art, people brought their own food, and it was designed to be that way,” she said.

The event was organized by the American Association of University Women, Imagine Community Arts Center, Porterville Art Association, City of Porterville and the Chamber.

Denise Marchant with the city said she was pleasantly surprised by the turnout.

“It’s certainly a basis of continuing the event and growing it,” she said. “And it just goes to show we definitely are a community that appreciates the arts and we’re trying to build on that and encourage it.”