Find one-of-a-kind pieces at St. Charles Fine Art Show

Years ago, the city of St. Charles commissioned sculptor Ray Kobald to create a bronze replica of Colonel Edward Baker, founder of the 1928 landmark hotel overlooking the Fox River.

On Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29, many more of Kobald's sculptures will be for sale at the 18th annual St. Charles Fine Art Show, a juried art festival of about 100 talented artists representing several media.

“Ray has been nationally known and he has works all around the country,” said Sue McDowell, chairwoman of the art show committee.

Countless people have seen and been photographed with the bronze Baker seated on a bench in front of the historic hotel. Kobald's statue, by the way, is just a block away from where artists will be setting up tents along Riverside Avenue from Route 64 (Main Street) to Illinois Avenue.

“The first tents start right at Main Street and Riverside,” McDowell said.

An estimated 10,000 people will attend the two-day event, which offers free admission and ample free parking in various city lots. Most people are in search of one-of-a-kind items from artists who work in oil, watercolor, photography, jewelry, ceramics and more. Live music, hands-on activities for kids and free historic trolley tours are part of the festivities. The artists, McDowell said, come from all over the country and about a quarter of them reside in the St. Charles/Geneva area.

“We also have an artist from Belgium, so we're kind of international,” McDowell said. “We started with 35 artists and it has grown each year. We're really happy with the size of the show.”

All Things Art Studio, a business in St. Charles, will run art activities in the Featured Tent. Another tent manned by the Arcada Theater called “Art-Cada” Rock Tent, will offer unique rock items for sale such as autographed guitars and artwork done by famous rock stars.

Internationally known artist/photographer Lawrence W. Oliverson, who studied with Ansel Adams the year before he died, will be selling framed and unframed color photographs ranging in price from $325 to $825 in 22-by-28-inch and 32-by-40-inch sizes. His work has been exhibited in Japan and Mexico.

“I also do custom work in much larger sizes,” Oliverson said. “I have done some very large images for private clients and corporate work.”

Oliverson has been working as a photographer since 1979 and lives in Sullivan, Wisconsin.

Kobald, who casts his work in clay and then sends it to a bronze foundry, has been working out of his home studio in Campton Hills for decades. He works six to eight hours a day, sometimes seven days a week. This is his third year with the St. Charles Fine Arts Show.

“It's an outstanding art show, very well run and the artists are all treated very nicely,” said Kobald, who is 85. “I would say hundreds of people come through my booth.”

Of his bronze Colonel Baker sculpture, he said, “I've been here so long that I knew Colonel Baker. He came into the drugstore where I worked as a teenager and bought cigars.”

Three professional judges will present several awards of excellence, such as Best in Show, to the artists.

“There's a cash award attached to that,” McDowell said.

A big perk for attendees of the show this year will be the opportunity to secure a purchase pledge on the website by clicking on the “Patron Program” tab. If this is done prior to the show and you are one of the first 50 participants, you'll receive a gift from the Arcada Theater in St. Charles.

“If you bring your receipts to the Patron Tent, the Arcada will give you two tickets to any show over the next year,” said McDowell. “The patron program page allows you to do that.”

McDowell said she and other members of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership organized the first art show to draw people to the downtown area shops and restaurants.

“We have a very devoted committee,” McDowell said. “It's a combination of loving downtown St. Charles and loving art.”

Hours of the show are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For details, visit www.downtownstcharles.org/.

18th annual St. Charles Fine Art Show

<b>What:</b> Features the juried work of about 100 artists

<b>When:</b> 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 28-29

<b>Where:</b> Riverside Avenue from Route 64 (Main Street) to Illinois Avenue

<b>Admission:</b> Free

<b>Details:</b> <a href="http://www.downtownstcharles.org/events/saint-charles-fine-art-show/">www.downtownstcharles.org</a>