Vignettes for Vignettes: Mayfest '13 at Fiddlehead at Four Corners

Paul Harris appreciates Olympia Hostler's acrylic paintings
at Fiddlehead at Four Corners during Mayfest '13 (Joey Kulkin phot)

BENNINGTON -- Crappy weather put the kibosh on Bennington's biggest street party of the year but Fiddlehead at Four Corners enjoyed its strongest Mayfest in recent memory.

Free beer helped.

The art gallery celebrated its 13th anniversary Saturday with a show for internationally acclaimed painter Olympia Hostler, with an exhibit showcasing the 10 best photos from its annual contest and with free pilsner and ale from Northshire Brewery of Bennington.

Rain soaked vendors and forced most of them to pack their tents and scram by 2 o'clock. That's right about the time traffic and sales and good vibes picked up inside Fiddlehead.

Free beer helped.

Jane Swensen won Fiddlehead's photo contest. We teased her identity yesterday.

Here she is ...

... and here's her winning photograph ...

She worked for President Clinton, and her son, Dan Engelstad, is the new men's hoops coach at Southern Vermont College, completing yesterday's Beltway-Bennington riddle.

Only one of the finalists showed up to see her photo in the exhibit, longtime Bennington elementary teacher Judith Pennock ...

... and here's Judith's beautiful shot shot highlighting the four corners ...

What Fiddlehead customers loved most, though, was the free beer.

Northshire Brewery at 108 County Street in Bennington tapped kegs of Battenkill Brown Ale and Equinox Pilsner. Fiddlehead owner Joel Lentzner pulled the lever time and again ...

Joel Lentzner and Carson

Elise and Elizabeth of New York City

It's 8 o'clock, and Art Gallery Dude is exhausted.

Watch this video now then check back tomorrow for the whole shebang of words, photos and videos comprising Mayfest '13 at Fiddlehead at Four Corners.