Rustic and refined: Historic setting enhances Art in the Barn

This weekend's Art in the Barn Fine Art Festival is as much about enjoying a day in the country as it is a juried art festival.

It takes place on the grounds of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital near Lake Barrington. Its historic barns — once owned by Quaker Oats as part of its research farm and donated to the hospital in 1973 — offer just the right juxtaposition of fine art set against rustic barn walls.

“Art in the Barn is different than all the other art shows, because of its setting,” says Sharon Vogel of Fox River Grove, who is chairing this year's event with Megan Clarke of Hawthorn Woods.

“All the old barns are decorated for fall, with haystacks, mums and pumpkins,” she adds, “and they seem to add so much charm to the event.”

Literally, the work of 175 artists spreads out across the upper and lower barns, the corn crib, machine shed and mill room, as well as in outlet tents.

Visitors will find plenty to see. Artists offer fine art in oil, watercolor, pastel, drawing, acrylics, fiber, glass, photography, digital media, jewelry, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, scratchboard, wood, and mixed media.

“We have lots of new artists this year,” Vogel adds, “as well as many of our established ones that keep people coming back year after year.”

In the middle of all the barns, live entertainment plays out in front of benches made out of haystacks, with corn stalks, colorful mums and pumpkins all adding to the rural atmosphere. This year's lineup includes country-western singers, as well as light rock and school groups.

Standing opposite the main stage is the brat tent, which organizers say is a popular draw all its own. Look for celebrities manning the grills, including Karen Lambert, president of the hospital.

Increasingly, organizers have beefed up children's activities at the event, starting with hands-on painting activities. Youngsters can paint on easels, as well as decorate pumpkins. They also can have their faces painted before taking in the petting zoo.

Art in the Barn also features the work of young, local artists in the Student Art Gallery behind the main stage.

“It's become a fantastic community event,” Vogel says, “and one for the whole family.”

Art in the Barn began in 1974, one year after Quaker Oats donated the land, when a group of 10 women and local artists met to develop a quality art event for the Barrington community.

What began as an art show with 30 artists and 1,500 patrons now more than four decades later regularly draws more than 5,000 visitors across its two-day run.

Vogel says it's a monumental effort that takes more than 400 volunteers to pull off. They include those working the festival itself, as well as others working behind the scenes, with artists, vendors and myriad details.

“It involves hundreds of volunteers,” says Magdalena Scanlan, who heads up the volunteers for the event. “It's huge.”

All of which adds up to a win-win for Advocate Good Shepherd and its auxiliary, for which Art in the Barn is one of its major fundraisers.

Proceeds from the event are split between the auxiliary's scholarship fund for local students and hospital improvements. Overall, organizers say that Art in the Barn has raised more than $3 million for the hospital, while drawing tens of thousands of people to its campus.

44th annual Art in the Barn fine art festival

Where: Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, 450 W. Route 22, Barrington

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22-23

Admission: $5; free for children 12 years and younger

Details: <a href="http://www.artinthebarn-barrington.com">www.artinthebarn-barrington.com</a>