New Itasca fest brings out residents' inner artist

Many people in Itasca know Neal Schawel.

He's served on the school board and has lived in the community for more than 20 years.

But this weekend, friends and colleagues saw a different side of him, one he usually keeps hidden: the artist.

"It's difficult because it's in my own town," he said Sunday, during Itasca's inaugural art fair. "A lot of people have come up and said, 'You're a painter?'"

Schawel was one of 65 artists to enter the "Benches on Parade" Fine Art and Wine Show at Usher Park in Itasca. The three-day fair draws its name from the 13 benches area artists painted and sold at auction, with the money being split by the artist and the village. Food vendors and a children's art area rounded out the fair.

Schawel's painting career began in 2003. Before then, he had never picked up a paintbrush, he said.

Six years later, he finally got the courage to enter a show and put his work out for people to view.

"I like working with colors and being creative in the moment," he said. "I had really always wanted to do it."

Village Trustee Ellen Leahy said she consulted with others who had been involved in past art shows to try to draw as many as she could to the event.

At first glance, it appears the first year was a success, as Usher Park's sidewalks were lined with artists and a band played in the gazebo.

"This is the perfect setting for an art fair," said Leahy, who helped organize the event. "This is such a great cultural event. We wanted to make this great for the artists."

Among the draws for the artists were $4,000 in prize money, which Leahy said was paid for by a combination of entrance fees and the village's hotel tax revenue.

Glass blower Stephan Cox from River Falls, Wis., took home the top prize for the juried event.

The 30-year veteran said he has seen business fall off in recent years.

"The last couple of years have been pretty rough. It's survival mode for a lot of artists," he said.

As an experienced art show attendee, Cox said that one drawback of Itasca's first event was that the timing conflicted with large fairs in Kansas City, Mo., and Peoria. A larger push for the community to attend and buy work would help as well, he said.

But he added that Itasca's fest has potential.

"For the first year, they did well," he said. "It's a beautiful setting. It'd be nice if this were to become viable."