Geneva Arts Fair presents original work in all categories

The Geneva Arts Fair presents a unique opportunity for buyers. It is one of the only art fairs in the area in which all pieces are original. Everything shown cannot be seen or bought anywhere else.

More than 150 artists from around the country are brought together to show their work across four blocks in downtown Geneva. Artwork on display will include photography, pottery, fiber, printmaking, glass, mixed media, watercolor, oil, wood, sculpture and jewelry.

Erin Melloy was hired by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce 12 years ago to organize the event and has helped create the past 11 shows. The show takes a lot of planning, she says.

“We are starting it right now for next year, and the show hasn’t even started yet,” Melloy said. She is an event planner who specializes in outdoor festivals.

Awards of excellence of $500 will be given to the top four artists in the 2-D and 3-D categories. Typically, contestants win for the collective score of each piece in their booth. On occasion, one entry will set the artist above the rest.

“Sometimes there’s one piece that is just ‘wow,’” Melloy said.

Melloy finds the artists by announcing the opportunity in art magazines, lists from previous festivals and by word-of-mouth. It takes more than two weeks to sort through the applicants and choose the artists.

When the artists are picked, they are juried by a committee which judges their work using same criteria as the judges at the festival.

There are two judges, one for two-dimensional art and one for three-dimensional art. Judges show up at 10 a.m. Saturday and assess the booths for five to six hours. Melloy meets the judges the day of the event to ensure everything is unbiased. The artists are judged on everything from impact to quality to the entirety of their booth.

“I strive for uniqueness of work,” Melloy said about choosing the artists to showcase in the Emerging Artists section. “We’re trying to give the artists a place to show their work ... give them a feel of what it’s like to be in a big show,” she said.

It takes a very brave person to put their work in the spotlight at a big show like this, she said.

“I am constantly looking for artists who are constantly pushing the envelope,” she said. This year’s section has artists from high school, college, a graffiti artist and even the city manager of Batavia, Bill McGrath, who does sculpture.

McGrath said he became serious about sculpting five years ago.

“I have always been curious, and interested in sculpture and architecture and building,” McGrath said. He finds his inspiration from what he sees about him through shapes, shadows, buildings and thoughts, he said.

“I express myself very visually, so it’s a natural thing to turn to sculpture, mainly metal, but I am playing with other things. I did a piece with rope I really liked because its texture was just so strong,” he said.

Sculpting is not an easy expression, though.

“I’m still learning, so mainly it takes a lot of time and mistakes to make a piece,” McGrath said, “It also takes some skin-thickening as you need to ignore others’ opinions and pay attention to your own feelings about it.”

Many seasoned artists who show their work at the Geneva Arts Fair have participated in many shows around the country.

“These aren’t weekend artists — this is how they make their living,” Melloy said.

The fair will feature the work of several couples. Diana and Ken Ferguson, of Lake Geneva, Wis., were both chosen to show their work again this year. Both grew up in the Chicago suburbs, Diana from Glen Ellyn and Ken from Downers Grove.

“It’s been a blast revisiting the communities that have meant so much to us after being away for more than 10 years,” Diana said. They travel around the country to show their pieces in 12 to 15 shows a year, Diana said.

They do about half of them together.

“It is a lot of work to set up both displays, but if there is a good show, like the Geneva Arts festival, we always make the effort. Plus, since I create art jewelry and Ken creates paintings, we are able to hit totally different demographics within each show and that always works for us,” Diana said.

Although the event attracts about 10,000 visitors, they don’t come for fair food or live music. The Geneva Arts Fair isn’t a typical festival, Melloy said.

“When you come to Geneva Arts Fair, that’s what you get — art.”

Visitors won’t have to leave the kids at home. There will also be an interactive part of the show for children. Hangers holding paper will be in the trees for kids to decorate.

Plandscape Inc. designs the landscape of the event to complement the artists’ work. This year, they have added lights to show a completely different scene at night.

“They have been a nice addition and partnership to our festival,” Melloy said.

“I’m appreciative of this festival and the huge movement in the Fox Valley for strong support for self-expression,” McGrath said. “Its good for everyone, especially for those following us.”

The show will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 28-29, along South Third Street between James and South streets. Visit genevachamber.com for details.

If you go

What: Geneva Arts Fair

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 28-29

Where: South Third Street, Geneva, between James and South streets

Cost: Free

Details: Call the Geneva Chamber of Commerce at (630) 232-6060 or visit <a href="http://www.genevachamber.com">genevachamber.com</a>.