Fine art display in Buffalo Grove this weekend
A nationally recognized art festival featuring more than 150 artists returns to Buffalo Grove this weekend.
The eighth annual Buffalo Grove Invitational Fine Art Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Buffalo Grove Town Center, located at the intersection of Lake-Cook Road and Route 83 (McHenry Road). The event will feature artists from 24 states, Canada and one from Israel - all selected by "jurors" made up of university art educators and museum curators, according to Amy Amdur, festival director with Amdur Productions.
The festival was rated as one of the top 50 art festivals in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine.
"We're up against other shows and other things, but I think people come back to Buffalo Grove because it's a great community," Amdur said.
More than 30,000 people are expected to attend the festival. Admission and parking is free, with a complementary shuttle available to the event.
All the artwork on display - from paintings to jewelry, photography to sculptures - will be available for sale. Amdur said artists are making an effort to make their work available at various prices, whether it's $25, $250 or $2,500.
Many artists will be painting in their booths, including one person working on a 5 foot by 10 foot painting of animals, Amdur said.
In addition, 14 area artists between ages 9 and 18 will be part of a special youth art division at the festival's south end. That's a significant increase from last year's four youth artist participants.
Several activities for kids will be offered for the first time at a family art tent. Participants will be able to paint large floor tiles, decorate and eat pretzels, and make books. The tent is sponsored by the village arts commission. Sunshine Craft of Highland Park will offer additional activities priced between $5 and $12, including making tie-dye T-shirts, sand in a bottle and ceramics. Part of the proceeds will support Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Youth performers will be featured at 4 p.m. on both days of the festival. On Saturday, violinists from the Betty Haag Suzuki Academy will play, and on Sunday, the village-sponsored Limelight on Stage will feature youth performers singing and dancing, among other talents.
Acoustic rock duo Cirrus Falcon and French guitarist Michelet Innocent will play throughout both days of the festival.
Seniors, people with special needs, and mothers with strollers are invited to a "Senior Stroll" through the festival at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Food will be available for purchase from local and national vendors.
<p class="News"><b>If you go</b></p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>What:</b> 8th Annual Buffalo Grove Invitational Fine Art Festival</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Where:</b> Buffalo Grove Town Center, Lake Cook Road and Route 83 (McHenry Road)</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Who:</b> More than 150 artists from the United States, Canada and Israel</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>When:</b> 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, </p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Cost:</b> Free</p>