Enjoy free Art on the Fox art show in Algonquin
Woodstock resident Trish Vollkommer has showcased her artwork through the Clayworker's Guild for the past 25 years, but this weekend will be the first time she shares her work at Art on the Fox, thanks to McHenry County College.
“(McHenry County College is) going to have such a strong presence at the art show,” event organizer Julie Farris said. “They are going to be able to show people who are interested in going into the art field what the college has to offer.”
The ninth annual fine arts show is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 18-19, at Riverfront Park, 201 N. Harrison St. in downtown Algonquin.
Vollkommer has taken art courses at the college on and off for the past 35 years.
“There was one class that was a craft class that had pottery in it,” Vollkommer said. “Once I touched the pottery, that was it. I just fell in love with it and have been doing it ever since.”
McHenry County College's instructor of photography Justin Schmitz will be judging the artists' work at the show.
“We've been very fortunate that the McHenry County College professors have served over the years as judges at the art show,” Farris said. “They have an incredible team, and outreach is very important to them. They want to spread the word about all the great activities in their art department. It worked out really well for both of us.”
Not only will the college provide a judge but there will also be students showcasing about 15 art submissions.
“They get the experience of talking about their artwork, why they're taking ceramics and what their work is about,” said Tom Vician, art and ceramics professor at the college. “It gives the students an opportunity to talk about their own passions and why they're interested in art.”For some of the college students, like Crystal Lake resident Jill Munger and Wonder Lake resident Socorro Medina, Art on the Fox will be the first time they showcase their work in a public forum.
“I was very honored,” Munger said. “I look forward to meeting more people and encouraging more people to take classes at MCC.”
Vician, English professor Laura Power and music professor Paige Lush recruited volunteers like Vollkommer along with a few other students to conduct live pottery-making demonstrations, to share their poetry, and to perform live music.
“Everybody loves pottery making. Who doesn't like watching people throw on the pottery wheel?” Vician said.
Vician said the art show will also provide an opportunity for him as well as the students to “drum up support and make people aware of the great art department at the college.”
Admission is free to Art on the Fox, which will feature the work of about 33 artists.
“We thought it could be a nice way to bring people from the community and surrounding areas to the downtown area and the river front,” said Ben Mason, senior planner for the Village of Algonquin. “We heard from a lot of artists that they enjoy that location. We thought it was a good way to promote the arts and our riverfront.”
With around 5,000 people attending the show last year, the streets of downtown Algonquin are sure to be filled this Father's Day weekend.
“We have a unique blend of attendees, people that it's a destination and other people who are on a leisure activity and happen to see the art show and stop and enjoy the show,” Farris said.
Items for sale will include paintings, sculpture, jewelry, photography and more.
“There's so much talent that's undiscovered, and each year, for me as the organizer of the event, you see so much art and so much beauty,” Farris said. “It's just wonderful that it never ends. There's always something new and unique. There's always something that I haven't seen before.”
For details, visit artonthefox.com