Q&A: Art Stroll with Organizer Laura Saravia Bott

I have always been involved in putting on art-based events since my first ones as a teen. After attending Pratt Institute, I have gathered over 20 years of experience in graphic design and marketing. In my last full-time role as Design Director / Senior Designer at Time Warner Global Media, an integrated marketing department of Time Warner Inc., I worked with leading brands to create custom marketing designs.

During those years, I started Stage 84, which was an art and music venue. After leaving Time Warner, I started Bott & Co. Productions, Inc. in 2014. With Bott & Co. I strive to help all types of businesses, from the local spot, like current clients Walter Hot Dogs and Good Shepherd Distillery to international, global brands like Citibank with a tailored approach to any budget. In late 2015, I expanded and opened the art gallery & gift store The Bott Shoppe in Mamaroneck. Recently, I created the group Westchester Handmade, as a way to unify the local creative scene starting in Southern Westchester.

During the Summer months, the village residents often flee to other locations leaving the local businesses with diminished foot traffic, especially on weekends. Along with various venues throughout the village, residents and visitors alike can follow along with a printed or custom Google map to various locations hosting artists and makers, various demos and activities as well. The Art Stroll is a way to not only showcase local talent but also bringing in people to the village to increase potential customers to local businesses. 

Over 30 Westchester artists showcasing digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, graphics and print-making, metal works, wood, mixed media, ceramics, paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and fashion.

On Saturday Night, we will be hosting a ticketed reception party VIP event where you can meet the artists and local business owners and will feature locally-made products, entertainment, and a raffle to win gift certificates and goods from a wider range of Mamaroneck businesses. Yet another opportunity for locals to support locals.

I have seen other towns do various versions. I saw what RiverArts has been doing and have been going to Art on the Ave in Greenwich for many years. Since moving to Westchester, I have checked out ones in Katonah and Nyak and have experienced how wonderful it is to see people checking out the art and supporting local businesses

Yes, I have volunteered in many ways including providing graphic design and marketing services pro-bono to the Village of Mamaroneck Arts Council for many years. I also organized and curated the two Food Truck & Maker’s Markets in the Industrial Area, now known as the M.A.K.E.R.S. Zone. Every year, I also work with the Chamber of Commerce and Rec Department to help with the Halloween Spooktacular. Most recently, I worked with the Emelin Theatre with their event “Made In Westchester” performance series specially curated to celebrate the many talented performers in the Westchester Area with a series of art showcases. It was a great collaboration and look forward to putting on more shows there. We will also be featuring an artist in the lobby as we did with that series. And that’s really when we relaunched Westchester Handmade. They will be one of the featured locations during the Art Stroll.

Yes, we are planning the “Live Art at the Barn” project thanks to the generous support of our Leading Sponsor Murphy Brothers Contracting, as part of the weekend’s festivities where will have two artists Dennis Dempsey and Dan Sciacca that we featured at our “Made in Westchester” series creating temporary murals at the barn. We will also be doing a communal portion where participants can help paint. In addition, artist Johnny “Skinz” that is going to live paint on sneakers during our reception party.

The always-delightful Chocolations will be doing “Design your own chocolate bar” bar and tasting samples or Mamaroneck Flowers, “Paint your own mini pot” and take home seeds to plant. 

Other art activities and demos at various locations including The Bott Shoppe, M.A.D.E., Pinot Palette or Bullseye Glass Resource and go check out artwork as well at local businesses like the Fine Men’s Salon of Westchester or go rock out at School of Rock of Mamaroneck for an interactive demo. We will also have Radiant Janes doing a tie dying activity as part of the  “Live Art at the Barn.” 

You should also drop by Chatsworth Antiques & Consignments for a mini version of their Market at Chatsworth with various makers selling their wares and lawn games by The Dad Shop who’s woodworking fabrication studio is also part of the Art Stroll.

As mentioned before, the main purpose of the Art Stroll is to promote local businesses but I also created the Art Stroll with a goal of featuring the creative diversity of Westchester. You don’t have to go to Brooklyn to find cool things. (Sorry Brooklyn!)

We are bringing back some of the other artists from the “Made in Westchester” series along with various artists from all over Westchester. We have tape artist Richela Fabian Morgan, as well as others from as close as Larchmont all the way to Yonkers and Tarrytown, and includes several from New Rochelle, Port Chester and Rye. All featured artists are currently living and working in Westchester.

Besides the exhibition, businesses have the chance to directly engage with their customers and showcase their businesses. They can provide demos and provide discounts for instance.

We will be celebrating the participating businesses at Good Shepherd Distillery which will feature their recently-released Sound Shore Whiskey. We will also have Mamaroneck resident, owner of Diner Brew Co. pouring beer and hard cider as well as samples from Chocolations and other locally made goods to be announced. Anyone can attend as purchase various ticket options, but we also wanted to make sure that everyone can join so we have suggested donation for entry.

It has been so great to see everyone rallying together to get this done. I provided the branding, curation, and promotions so it’s been a great challenge but it’s been really rewarding so far. In the past years, I have developed good relationships with local business owners and I have collaborated with many groups and I so appreciate how we can come together to make great things happen.