More than 100 artists expected at St. Charles Fine Art Show
Organizers of this year’s St. Charles Fine Art Show say it is going to be the largest show to date, with 110 artists expected.
The 15th annual show, presented by the Downtown St. Charles Partnership, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 25 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 26 on Riverside Avenue, between Route 64 and Illinois Avenue.
The juried event features artists in various mediums from watercolor, photography, jewelry, wood and sculpture.
The art of weaving
This year’s feature tent showcases Fine Line Creative Arts Center. Located on the west side of St. Charles, Fine Line is primarily a school where internationally known artists teach a variety of workshops in textiles, ceramics, graphic arts, metalwork, glass, jewelry, and many other arts and crafts.
In the feature tent, members of the Fine Line textile faculty will demonstrate the following arts of weaving and the equipment and methods associated with them.
Ÿ Weaving makes cloth, in this case, hand-woven cloth.
Ÿ Spinning makes the yarn that is used for weaving and knitting.
Ÿ Ply-split braiding is an ancient craft of nomads of the Far and Middle East for making extremely strong cords and braids.
Ÿ Felting describes a number of processes for working with woven wool or wool yarn, from treating fabrics to creating shapes and objects.
Ÿ Basket weaving usually involves wood or reed-type products and may incorporate anything that can be woven, from textiles to metals.
Local artists featured
The show features many local artists. Two from St. Charles are fine art photographers Robert Rydin and John Granata.
Robert Rydin has participated in the St. Charles Fine Art Show for four years. Over the past five years, Rydin’s work has been featured in juried shows from Chicago One of a Kind, Hinsdale Fine Art Fare, North Shore Fine Art Show, Chicago Tribune Michigan Ave Art Show, and the Long Grove Fine Art Show. Rydin combines high dynamic range and digital panoramic techniques to create stunning large panoramic images.
John Granata is a first time participant in the St. Charles Fine Art Show. Granata has participated in a host of juried shows from Old Town Art Fair and Lakeview East Festival in Chicago, to Buffalo Grove Invitational Art Festival, the Geneva Art Fair, and the Promenade of Art in Arlington Heights.
The work of John Granata specializes in alternative photographic printing inspired by historic photographic processes. Then, images are transferred onto stainless steel, glass, or printed on a variety of unique papers.
“My best work comes from unintentional discoveries that catch my interest,” Granata said. “My images are postcards from a personal journey of how I see the world around me.”
Returning winners
This year, retuning artists represent more than half of the 110 artists, including past award-winners Taylor Mazer and Jack McLean.
Taylor Mazer of Grand Rapids, Mi., has been working as a professional artist since graduating with a bachelor of fine arts in illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design in 2012. Mazer specializes in drawings with micron pens and quill tip pens on acid free drawing papers. In 2012, Mazer was awarded a Judges Award at the St. Charles Fine Art Show and was invited back this year. Juried shows where Mazer’s work has been featured include the Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair, Grand Haven Art Fair, Old Town Art Fair, and the 57th Street Art Fair.
Jack McLean of Johnsburg has over 38 years experience as a studio sculptor and won Best of Show in last year’s St. Charles Fine Art Show. In recent years, Jack McLean has been invited to present his work at the Smithsonian Craft Show, Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, American Craft Exposition, and the St. Louis Art Fair. McLean’s bronze constructions are welded, forged, machined, and oxidized with hot patinas.
“I want my pieces to look ‘made’ and to retain evidence of my hand and thought,” McLean said.
Free, family friendly
There is no cost to attend the show, which will feature live musical entertainment throughout the weekend, artist demonstrations, Art Talk and a family photo booth.
The event is held rain or shine. There is ample free parking in multiple city lots. For details, visit www.stcharlesfineartshow.com/.
If you go
What: 15th annual St. Charles Fine Art Show, featuring the work of 110 artists
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 25-26
Where: Riverside Avenue, between Route 64 and Illinois Avenue, downtown St. Charles
Admission: Free
Details: <a href="http://www.stcharlesfineartshow.com">www.stcharlesfineartshow.com/</a>.