Browsing the Geneva Arts Fair

Rosie and Dave Claus of Naperville are a team.

The husband-and-wife artistic duo specializes in gourd creations — many of which they put on display Saturday and Sunday during the 10th annual Geneva Arts Fair.

Dave Claus starts each piece, preparing the surface of the gourd and engraving designs on the dried shells. Then Rosie weaves and coils textured fiber wraps to top them off.

“It’s 50/50,” Dave Claus said. “She can’t do it without me and I can’t do it without her.”

Off the Vine Gourds earned the retired couple one of only four top rankings for 3-D art at the juried show — which means they were part of a select group of artists who allowed to set up in downtown Geneva for the fair.

Edward C. Cook, of Batavia, was one of four to get the same recognition for 2-D art. Cook specializes in miniature paintings that average only 11 square inches. His collection has earned him a spot in the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame.

“I’ve always had a penchant for the small and precise,” Cook said. “It’s just my nature: detail-oriented.”

A group of 150 artists from across the state and country offered masterpieces in sculpture, fused glass, fiber, furniture, jewelry, photography and painting for sale in this year’s fair.

Despite a pattern of rain followed by heat, more than 20,000 people strolled through the fair, some just soaking in the beauty of the artwork, others taking advantage of the chance to buy.

Ken Guilbault, of St. Charles, had already made two purchases before he’d even reached the halfway point. Guilbault is no stranger to art fairs, and attends several each year.

He said Geneva’s is unparalleled in quality art.

“This is the best for finding something unique,” Guilbault said.

Laura Rush, communications manager for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, the group that organizes the fair, said organizers take pains to maintain the quality of art each year. At the beginning, artists need to be courted to come. Now, they line up to even be considered and are willing to travel her from all over the country.

“They seek us out,” Rush said. “People want to be in it.”