Mintfest 2012: The icing on the mint cake! (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Mintfest 2012: The icing on the mint cake!

6:00pm Wednesday 29th August 2012 in News By Adrian Mullen, Arts correspondent

MINTFEST 2012 dishes up another dazzling showcase of street arts this weekend – with a chunk of Kendal Mint Cake taking centre stage.

Artist Richard DeDomenici promises an Arctic adventure when he attempts to build an igloo from the town’s sweetest export, taking 64 giant slabs of the mint confection to create a three-feet domed structure at K Village , on Riverside Place, using blocks made by Wilson’s of Kendal.

The ‘cool’ piece of art is among the many highlights of the sixth Mintfest International Festival of Street Arts, which brings a vibrant mix of bright street stars to Kendal from tomorrow (Friday) until Sunday.

Richard will begin laying the first blocks of his Mint Igloo tomorrow (Friday) and the event runs until 4.30pm on Sunday – when he will attempt to eat his way out of the igloo!

The Mintfest artist-in-residence said he was inspired by explorers such as Ernest Shackleton, who used Kendal Mint Cake on his trips.

“We are embracing his spirit of exploration and uncertainty and this project is a journey into the unknown,” he said.

K Village general manager Mandy Dixon said Mintfest was a powerful celebration of street arts and Richard DeDomenici’s quirky endeavour 'really would capture the essence of the event – fun, creativity and surprise.'

Meanwhile, a group of pedal-powered artists will display their skills on two wheels, showing cycling as an art as well as a sport.

Local project Biked Up is a stunt-bike-dance for young talent, which relies on the audience to pedal a hand-built eight bike generator to create the sound.

The brainchild of Creative Transition, a sub-group of South Lakes Action on Climate Change, Biked Up includes professional artists and Helen Moffitt’s dance team from the Brewery Arts Centre.

Now in its sixth year, Mintfest promises to fill every corner of Kendal with an array of street performances from around the globe.

Julie Tait, director of Kendal Arts International, the force behind it, said Mintfest had earned a reputation for presenting world-class performance in a friendly and accessible fashion, with most of the performances free.

Among the anticipated events will be De Vuurmeesters of Belgium, transforming Nobles Rest into a Fire Village with blazing installations and fiery carnival creatures, a new contemporary circus show from Circus Ronaldo, and the Brewery will host a full programme of music and performance, including a Twenties Vintage night.

Abbot Hall Park will also come to life with performances, a fountain bar and an astronaut’s caravan.