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Tucked into the University Town Center's Independence Plaza in Hyattsville, among the numerous restaurants, child-friendly water fountain and movie theater, is a little thing that's making a big difference in the name of free entertainment: ArtSpin.

ArtSpin, a partnership between the Hyattsville Community Arts Alliance and the University Town Center, is a win-win situation for everyone involved. The artists get an inexpensive place to showcase their work, the center presents a lively, vacant retail space to potential buyers, and the public gets one-of-a-kind art created by local artists.

ArtSpin, returning from an eight-year hiatus, is held on the ground-level of an ultra-modern building that houses 22 lofts and includes green building components. The festival features an art gallery, an open water fountain and live music.

Nonprofit Hyattsville Community Arts Alliance resurrected ArtSpin — held in 2000, 1998 and 1997 after launching in 1996 —because it was one of the great events that Hyattsville became known for and it brought people in the community together every year, according to Robert Croslin, a member of HCAA. HCAA President Dana McQuillan said that with the closing of Artmosphere in Mount Rainier and Artists on the Avenue in Hyattsville, HCAA felt that they needed to do something, even if it was a temporary show with fewer artists than they originally hoped for.

"I believe that ArtSpin's return shows that HCAA is trying to be proactive throughout these ‘hard times,'" McQuillan wrote in an e-mail. "We used an empty space that hasn't been rented out — that is certainly a hint at how the economy is going now.  Why not use the empty spaces and turn them into something positive?" 

ArtSpin veterans will notice tickets are more than $10 less than they were at previous festivals, when organizers charged around $20 to get in. This year, tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door.

"In the past, ArtSpin was a much more expensive event (in the $20 range); however, this year, we thought we should take into account the current economic situation," McQuillan wrote in an e-mail. 

Admission includes free wine and beer, free music, and coupons for local vendors in the University Town Center, McQuillan wrote.

As for the art, a variety of work types are represented ArtSpin's gallery, including sculpture, glass, watercolor and abstract work, said Lynda Lynn, who was the University Town center leasing director/marketing project manager until July 2. The gallery also features an artist who does silk painting from cold wax, as well as another artist who creates sculptures from broken automobile glass.

"I think [ArtSpin] is an avenue that is good for the community because a lot more people are interested in art, especially for their kids," said HCAA member Mary Ann Lipovsky of Greenbelt, whose watercolor paintings are included in ArtSpin's gallery. She said she can remember when art was "a hippie, beatnik kind of thing, but people are really reaching out by taking classes. It's really great."

As of July 2, four pieces — one by Lipovsky — had been sold at this year's ArtSpin, which opened June 6. Lipovsky said she displays her work at several other local venues, but "this is the first one we've had like this that's been well-advertised with the band," she said. Several groups, including Fred Foss & Julie Hall, District North, The Summary and Mike Lewandowski, have performed during the gallery's open hours.

Attendees interested in doing a little art shopping can expect to pay about $250-$350 for a piece, although pieces range from $35 to $1,500.

HCAA, a group of mostly regional painters, sculptors, photographers, crafts makers and musicians founded in 1994, raised roughly $700 from opening night ticket sales. It plans to contribute that money to its general fund to help pay for future events. In addition to ArtSpin, HCAA supports arts education initiatives through sponsorship of children's workshops and donations to the PGCPS Youth Art Month exhibit and provides artists with show space and the community with art program venues.

In the same plaza, a grouping of tables and chairs surrounds the interactive fountain, which is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Children and adults of all ages are welcome to play in the fountain, which sprays streams of water in various heights.

The center is one block from the Prince George's Plaza Metro Station, near major Metro bus lines, near the County's "The Bus" route and near a University of Maryland shuttle stop. The New Carrollton Amtrak Station is four miles from the center. Parking is available at either of two large parking garages, and the first two hours of parking are free.

ArtSpin is funded by Prince George's Arts Council, Prince George's County Councilman William Campos (D-Dist. 2) of Hyattsville and Del. Justin D. Ross (D-Dist. 22) of Greenbelt and is sponsored by the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation, University Town Center and the city of Hyattsville.

If You Go

ArtSpin

When: 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays through July 17

Where: University Town Center, Lofts 22, 6525 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville

Admission: Free

Information: www.hcaaonline.org

E-mail Jordan Attebury at jattebury@gazette.net.