No Chills at Area Street Festival

While standing for hours as a human statue was not the most common way to celebrate Sunday's Apple Chill festival, it was the route taken by Hunt, who took up his act several years ago in Europe. He stood mostly motionless for more than an hour, making only small gestures of thanks to tippers. The 29th annual Apple Chill, sponsored by the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department, drew revelers with arts and crafts booths, food, live music and entertainment such as Hunt's performance.

"I was broke in Ireland and wanted to go to a pub," he said. "I made about 12 bucks in 10 minutes."

What started as a joke earned enough money for that evening's festivities and sparked an interest that has brought him across Europe and the United States, eventually landing him in Chapel Hill.

Other activists, artists and vendors also took advantage of the festival's high turnout.

Jeanie Arnel worked at the the Christian Science Reading Room's booth hoping to spread its message to others. As a Christian Scientist, Arnel said the church does not believe in using doctors. "We want to bring back the original healing of Jesus," she said.

Arnel encouraged festival patrons to give the church a chance. "It's a difficult religion," she said. "It's not for everyone."

Live music ranging from salsa to hip hop resonated through Franklin Street, livening the crowd and inspiring some festivalgoers to dance.

Janet Bratter, a Chapel Hill musician, came to Apple Chill to take advantage of the free audience. Bratter, who played the guitar and harmonica, said she believes it is important to expose children to music.

"It's important that kids learn to do something with their hands," she said. "All you need is your voice and expression. It's just like freedom."

Carrboro resident Ellen Cline-Flitsche came to the festival with her husband Jason and infant son Paul to enjoy the art and music. "(The Entouch Gospel Jazz Band) is really cool," she said. "It's my favorite thing so far."

Jackson D'Armond, a photographer from Chesapeake, Va., came to sell his art as part of a bonding experience with his wife. D'Armond sells his art at several shows per year in addition to working his day job at a marketing department. "We were looking for something we could do together," he said. "I do the photography, and my wife does the framing and mounting."

Apple Chill was also a major draw for UNC students. Freshman Lindsay Beth Ellison, a journalism major from Greenville, S.C., took advantage of free, on-site framed photographs at one booth. "I had to check it out," she said.

Steve Wishnevsky came to Apple Chill to promote his hobby. Wishnevsky, a cabinetmaker from Winston-Salem, had a booth selling his hand-carved upright basses and guitars.

Wishnevsky's instruments have not made him rich, but he works out of the personal enjoyment the hobby brings.

"I made enough to cover the booth fee and maybe a little gas money," he said.

The artists, vendors, activists and patrons of Apple Chill created an atmosphere of diversity and concluded Chapel Hill's annual Art Springs to Life Festival. Brendan Ward, a freshman communication major from Clemmons, thought the festival's diversity was part of its appeal.

"It brings together many different people who normally wouldn't share the same street."

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.