'It's all unique': Geneva Arts Fair on display

Don Esser has never been short on inspiration.

In 1976, he found his passion for creating sculptures out of metal when he worked as a blacksmith. Now at age 64, his interests lie in creating new and unique sculptures: a bicycle figure, a rooster sculpture, a large fish, all of which are made out of silverware and other metal scraps and objects.

"I love making this stuff," he said. "I'm walking a fine line between having fun and making a living."

Esser, who lives in Waunakee, Wisconsin, was one of more than 140 artisans showcasing their talents in this weekend's 14th annual juried Geneva Arts Fair, hosted by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.

Paintings, pottery, photographs, glass, wood and jewelry were among the works on display and for sale throughout the streets of downtown Geneva. Every single piece is an original, said Scott Lebin, who has been chairman of the chamber's board of directors for 18 years.

"It's all unique," he said. "You aren't going to find this in a store."

The artists who appear at the fair are judged and selected from a pool of applicants, Lebin said. Though many artists return year after year, he said, the chamber always seeks new talents and displays.

Scott Simmons, who lives near Madison, Wisconsin, has sold his glass-blown art, including colorful vases, plates and lawn decorations, at the fair for more than six years, he said. Though he said Geneva is a great market, creating the product is his favorite part of the job.

"Fairs are always fun because you get rid of some glass so you can make more glass," Simmons said.

Each year, the fair draws between 25,000 and 30,000 visitors, including aspiring artists such as 18-year-old Jessica Wachter of Naperville.

From the age of 7, Wachter has been interested in woodworking. She and her grandmother, Sharlene Bracke, of Warrenville, attend the Geneva Arts Fair every summer to check out other unique artwork, she said.

All items on display were for sale, said event organizer Krista Anderson, who noted that pieces range in price and are often very affordable.

A craft area also was available for children who attended the art fair.

"We're trying to promote art for all ages," Lebin said.

The chamber's purpose in putting on the art fair, he added, is to promote and draw awareness to the arts.

"We need to have a focus on it," Lebin said. "Art is an expression of who we are."