10
ART SPEAK
by Stella Carnahan
Photo courtesy of the Decatur Area Arts Council.
Get Your Art on in the Park Arts in Central Park is just around the corner! Come and enjoy this juried fine arts fair on Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20. Artists from five states will be in Central Park to sell their artwork: pottery, wood, jewelry, watercolors, oils, acrylic, blown glass, photography, sculpture, fiber arts and more. Strolling musicians, special guests, kids' art activities presented by Striglos Just for Kids, a special ArtShop for Kids, face painting by The Zoo Crew and local caricature artist Ed Lozano round out this family friendly event. Decatur has been host to a juried arts fair since 1962 when Barn Colony Artists created and produced an art show in downtown Decatur called the Downtown Art Fair. Later, through a collaboration with the Downtown Decatur Council, it became known as Art on Main. In 1995 Decatur Area Arts Council and Gallery 510 took over the show and renamed it Arts in Central Park. The tradition of a strong visual arts fair remains. While many of the artists return each year, we strive to attract new artists to add to the flavor
10 | September 2015
of the show. Great weather, interesting special guests, musical entertainment, and fun activities for kids help create a place where we hope you want to come and bring your family and friends to shop, browse, visit, and enjoy a relaxing experience that offers something for all ages. If shopping for original artwork is your interest, take part in our VIP (Very Important Person) program. All it takes is a promise to purchase something, no matter how large or small the dollar amount, from one of the participating artists. This promises sales for the artists, which in turn brings in new artists each year and retains many of our good artists. On Friday evening, our VIPS enjoy a preview party complete with Craig Russo’s Latin Jazz Project playing soft jazz in the background, a tent with food and drink and the opportunity for first pick of the artists’ work. A majority of the artists set up and participate in this special Friday evening preview event, and all are set up and ready for the weekend by 10 am on Saturday morning. We hope you make Arts in Central Park part of your weekend plans. Remember to bring the family! And if you want to be a Very Important Person, call the Decatur Area Arts Council at 4233189 or Gallery 510 at 422-1509.
Stella Carnahan is Arts in Central Park Coordinator for the Decatur Area Arts Council.