TRAVERSE CITY -- Festival attendees can take home T-shirts and ticket stubs as mementos of the fifth annual Traverse City Film Festival.
Or, they can take home original artwork and memories of local music.
At the City Opera House, local watercolor painters Charles Murphy and Kathy Lyons demonstrated their painting abilities.
"The sensibilities of the crowd is heightened already," Murphy said. "We're not at a farm-implement convention. This is one of the most appreciative audiences."
For Murphy, there's excitement in working before a live crowd. People see a painting in progress as they enter a panel-discussion or movie, then see its progression when they exit the Opera House.
"It's empowering to go out and do a demo," Murphy said. "Here, the pressure is on. I want it to be visually exciting when doing the demo, so you do things you wouldn't necessarily do in the home studio."
Also scattered throughout the festival have been musical performances that take place at the Open Space each night, at after-hours jam sessions and before select films.
"I like it, the atmosphere of it, and the people seem to enjoy everything of it," said Aaron Reitz, drummer of Traverse City's Phenomenal Head, which performed several times during the festival.
Close to 50 musical groups donated their performances for the film festival.
"We're not really in this for the money, we just like to play for people. If that means playing for free, then we play for free," said Nathan Marks, of The Injured List, a pop-rock band from Adrian.
Artists and performers appreciate the film festival crowds, who have an arts awareness and appreciation.
"We typically play for relatively small crowds, so we're looking forward to playing for a larger audience and for people that appreciate art in general," said Marks.
Festival-goers also appreciate the wide variety of available local art and music.
"I love live music," said Goudy Zacks, of Traverse City. "I have yet to determine how much it provides for the human spirit."
For Murphy, who lives close to downtown, the energy generated from movies, art and people is contagious.
"It filters into the neighborhoods, in a manageable, nice tide. It's an energy that is helpful to everybody," Murphy said. "Especially in these economic times, people feel an advance of commerce and culture at the same time."
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