Just Do it

realize-Philadelphia: Music and Arts Festival

by Helen I. Hwang

Sat., June 30, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., free, Liberty Lands Park,Third and Poplar streets,www.realizephiladelphia.net

Does anyone realize how environmental, artistic and business groups in Philly can interconnect? This Saturday's, ahem, realizePhiladelphia festival in Liberty Lands Park is out to prove that uniting these resources can potentially promote their individual causes.

This inaugural get-together, which benefits environmental advocacy organization Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, offers a plethora of activities to both tickle the senses and awaken the activist. There'll be three-dimensional art installations, Mother Earth puppetry and Secret Pants sketch comedy. Eight musicians will play a wide range of styles from jazz to hip-hop. While nibbling on raw foods that'll be for sale, you can see the sounds of saxophonist Elliott Levin get reinterpreted as visual imagery, with live painting from local artist Vorcan. If you're in the mood for a lecture, listen to a stump speech from Democratic mayoral candidate Michael Nutter, and hear Al Gore's Climate Project presentation given by NoLibs resident Jon Ross.

"The idea is to bring the community together, giving a little taste of Philadelphia culture all in one shot," says organizer Dejha Mascellino. "It all comes down to networking artists, local political [groups] and businesses." A multimedia major at University of the Arts, Dejha (as she likes to be called) is a vocalist and guitarist, who'll also be performing on stage that day. Her business card reads "creative collaboration executive."

While the all-day celebration is meant to entertain and provide networking opportunities, it's also, perhaps most importantly, about raising awareness of environmental issues. Dejha, for one, aims to be on Earth leaving the "lightest kind of footprint." She hopes others do the same.