Explore the arts at Fine Line Arts Festival June 1

The Fine Line Creative Arts Center, 37W570 Bolcum Road in St. Charles, invites the community to Fine Line Arts Festival, its annual open house day, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1. It's a day to explore everything Fine Line has to offer. There will be demonstrations throughout the day all over the campus, which this year will include glassblowing in the newly added glassblowing studio, as well as blacksmithing, jewelry making and more.

There will also be a chance for a nominal fee to try your hand at making your art. This year's offerings include tie-dye T-shirts and bandannas, basket weaving, Suminagshi paper, and the always popular raku firing. For the uninitiated, raku firing is the painting of a glaze onto a pre-fired clay piece and then placing it in a container of combustible material. The reduction, or smoking, performed by this process blackens the item and allows some unusual patterns to emerge.

Fine Line members have been busy over the last few months creating an array of clay items, all now just waiting to be purchased, glazed and fired. Volunteers will be on hand to help.

Work by local artists will be available for purchase in the Dempsey Artisan Shop. These artists create one-of-a-kind items, including jewelry, pottery, scarves, and more. If you are looking for a gift for yourself or someone in your life, this is the place. Situated in the Barn at Fine Line, and open year-round, the inventory is continually changing.

For those who have never visited Fine Line before, it is home to the Kavanagh Gallery, which hosts six to seven gallery exhibitions each year. The current display comprises of the work of 30 artists. Titled "Sculpture," the exhibit explores just some of the many forms sculpture can take.

Visitors will be able to grab a bite to eat and listen to free musical performances from local bands. The first act will hit the stage at 10:30 a.m., and the music will play throughout the event. The lineup for this year will be: Mirabelle Rose from 10:30 to 11:10 a.m.; Dylan Schwieger from 11:10 to 11:50 a.m.; Cassandra Henwood from 11:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Shady Play from 12:30 to 1:10 p.m.; Ryan Cooper from 1:10 to 1:50 p.m.; and Finn Atwood from 1:50 to 2:30 p.m.

Parking and admission are free. This event is open to all ages and will take place rain or shine.

For details, visit fineline.org.