As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life. ~Sir John Lubbock
Nature provides a perfect backdrop this time of year, and to complement the resurgence of blue skies and blossoms is a faint scent of oil paint coupled with a pleasant blend of eclectic music. It’s art festival time. Whether you’re a newbie or a connoisseur, perusing future masterpieces or simply people watching, there are many opportunities offered to satiate your creative side.
The summer kicks off at home with the 49th annual Columbus Arts Festival June 4, 5 and 6 throughout the Discovery District.
In addition to hosting more than 230 nationally-acclaimed artists, the event features food vendors, live concerts, hands-on art activities and more. www.gcac.org/fest.
Columbus-area artists participating include Dylan and Amy Engler (glass); Anthony Gelpi (glass); Deborah Close (jewelry); Amy Taylor (painting); Kathleen Green (Groveport, painting); Adrian Oishi (Westerville, painting); and Paul Palnik (printmaking).
Coinciding with the festival, the Ohio Statehouse at Broad and High streets, is offering “Art & Architecture Tours” with a chance to check out the historical building’s extensive art collection. www.ohiostatehouse.org.
Also, The King Arts Complex’s “A Taste of Soul” is June 5 with arts, crafts and more. www.kingartscomplex.com.
Central Ohio
Take advantage of the aesthetic surroundings at the following Central Ohio art-centric events.
The 37th annual Delaware Arts Festival is May 15 and 16 in historic Downtown Delaware, with more than 170 exhibitors, concessions, a dog parade and entertainment. www.delawareartsfestival.org.
The Olde Worthington Art Festival kicks off its 18th year June 19-20 on the Village Green in historic Worthington. www.owba.net.
More than 68,000 visitors perused the artists exhibiting at last year’s Easton Art Affair. This year’s event, its 11th, is June 25-27 throughout the streets of Easton Town Center. www.eastonartaffair.com.
The Westerville Chamber of Commerce’s Music and Arts Festival, July 10-11 at Heritage Park, has been a highlight of the season for more than 36 years. www.westervillechamber.com/festival/.
The Lazy Daze of Summer July 24, surrounding the Grandview Library, features about 50 juried exhibitors, children’s activities and more. www.ghpl.org/community/lazydaze.php.
Be part of the creative and fine arts competitions facilitated by the Ohio State Fair, July 28-Aug. 8 at the Ohio Expo Center. www.ohiostatefair.com.
Close out the summer with the 44th Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival, a blind juried festival showcasing 200 fine art and craft artists. This interactive art space is held at Northam Park, 2070 Northam Rd., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 6. Visit www.ua-ohio.net.
Bring on the fall with the Columbus Riverfront Art Festival, Sept. 17-19 at Genoa Park on the Scioto River in Downtown Columbus. This is the fifth anniversary of the event, with a selection of 150 visual artists, musical performances by Opera Columbus and jazz groups and the season finale of Waterfire. www.byhandevents.com.
Ohio
Summer is full of themed festivals, focusing on music, community, gardens, food, kids and more. There is also a bevy of statewide events centered on the visual arts. Here is a sampling:
Cincinnati’s Summerfair, June 4-6, is the Queen City’s premier festival of fine arts and crafts, with hundreds of artists, entertainment, a Youth Arts Fest and more. www.summerfair.org.
The 20th anniversary Art in the Village is June 5-6 at Legacy Village in Cleveland. Can’t get there for that specific weekend? Head up for the Art in the Village Part II Sept. 25-26. www.legacy-village.com.
The Granville Art Affair marks its second year June 12-13 on the great lawn of the historic Bryn Du Mansion, with fine cuisine, entertainment and a polo match. The event coincides with the Wine Festival, 1-5 p.m. June 12. www.granvilleartaffair.com.
Dayton’s Greene Town Center hosts Art Affair at the Greene June 25 and 27, with 100 exhibitors. www.artaffairatthegreene.com.
The stunning Toledo Botanical Gardens, 5403 Elmer Dr., Toledo, plays host to the Crosby Festival of the Arts. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the juried festival and is June 26-27. www.toledogarden.org.
Historic Downtown Lebanon hosts the Warren County Festival of the Arts June 26, with a juried show, music, demonstrations and more. www.warrencountyarts.org.
Cleveland Heights’ Cain Park Arts Festival is July 9-11, with 150 juried artists, entertainment, food and children’s activities. www.cainpark.com.
Also, Cleveland’s west side features the 18th annual Festival of Arts July 9-11 at St. John West Short Hospital in Westlake, with 200 exhibitor booths. www.sjws.net.
The Summer Festival of the Arts, a collaboration between Youngstown State University and the arts community in the Mahoning Valley area, is July 10 and 11 at YSU. www.ysu.edu/sfa/.
The Akron Arts Expo runs from July 24-25 at Hardesty Park, 1615 Market St., Akron, with fine art and crafts, entertainment, a silent auction and an awards dinner. www.akronartsexpo.org.
August kicks off with the Lakewood Arts Festival, Aug. 7, including more than 160 juried artists set up throughout this charming Cleveland suburb. www.lakewoodartsfest.org.
Cambridge’s 43rd annual Salt Fork Arts & Crafts Festival is Aug. 13-15, with 100 local and national exhibitors. www.saltforkfestival.org.
The third annual Levis Commons Fine Art Fair in Perrysburg is Aug. 21-22, with sophisticated shopping, dining and more than 125 juried artist booths. www.shopleviscommons.com.
The 17th annual Black Swamp Arts Festival takes over Downtown Bowling Green Sept. 12-13, with more than 100 exhibitors, music and food. www.blackswamparts.org.
Wooster’s 6th annual Arts Jazz Fest is Sept. 20, with more than 80 artists, jazz and a New Orleans-style parade. www.woosterartsjazzfest.org.
Regional
Louisville, Ky.
AmericanStyle Magazine recently ranked the Top 10 Fairs and Festivals and Louisville, Ky. boasted two of the three top events. Kentucky Crafted: The Market is held each March (http://kycraft.ky.gov) and the city’s historic district provides the setting for the sprawling St. James Court Art Show, held the first weekend every October (Oct. 1-3, 2010), and featuring more than 500 exhibitors. www.stjamescourtartshow.com.
Get acquainted with Louisville’s entertainment hub at the Downtown Louisville Art Festival at Fourth Street Live! June 12-13. More than 150 artists display their work among Fourth Street Live!, Louisville’s premier dining, entertainment and retail destination downtown. www.4thstlive.com.
Just a bit south/west, another Kentucky arts festival earned the No. 5 spot on AmericanStyle’s list for its quality over quality reputation. The Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival, June 26-27 at Midway College, includes hourly demonstrations, public art projects and an indoor gallery. www.franciscosfarm.org.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Indianapolis certainly isn’t short on artistic expression. The trendy Broad Ripple neighborhood hosts its 40th annual Art Fair, with 225 exhibitors, May 15-16. Highlights include a children’s creative area, beer and wine gardens and entertainment. www.indplsartcenter.org.
Head to Downtown Indianapolis June 12-13 for the Talbot Street Art Fair (www.talbotstreet.org), with 250 exhibitors. And plan ahead for the 44th annual Penrod Arts Fair, Sept. 11 on the grounds of the Indianapolis Art Museum. It features 300 exhibitors and more than 50 arts-related exhibitors. www.penrod.org.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Summer begins in Downtown Pittsburgh with the Three Rivers Arts Festival, June 4-13. The 50th anniversary event returns to a newly revitalized Point State Park and includes an expanded Artists Market. www.artsfestival.net.
The Shadyside Art Festival on Walnut Street in Pittsburgh is May 22-23 with an eclectic mix of unique and contemporary art displayed throughout the bustling shopping district. This new show has been added in response to a successful August Shadyside Art Festival event, which returns Aug. 28-29. www.artfestival.com.
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Yes, the city that shall not be named relies on more than just football. Since 1960, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair has consistently ranked as one of the top arts events in the country, as named by AmericanStyle Magazine and other organizations. It now entails four award-winning events wrapped into one artistically explosive weekend – The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the State Street Area Art Fair, the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair and Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair. This year’s extravaganza is July 21-24. www.artfair.org.
Chicago
Chicago oozes with art – from the famous Arts Institute of Chicago to the popular public piece Cloud Gate – so it’s no wonder there are plenty of creative events listed on the city’s calendar. Art Chicago, the international fair of contemporary and modern art, runs through May 3. The event features curators, collectors, artists and enthusiasts perusing a frenzy of current and historical work. www.artchicago.com.
The 36th annual Wells Street Art Festival is July 12-13 in the Old Town neighborhood, with fine arts and a Beatles tribute band. www.oldtownchicago.org.
The Gold Coast Art Fair takes place July 31-Aug. 1 at the expansive Grant Park. The 53rd annual fair welcomes more than 300 juried artists from around the world. www.amdurproductions.com. Also, from July 31-Aug. 1 is the second annual Lincoln Park Arts and Music Festival, with music, food and a new juried arts and crafts competition. www.lincolnparkchamber.com.
Promoted as an event that “puts the spotlight squarely on the mysterious amalgam of inspiration and perspiration that delights the eye and stirs the soul,” the Bucktown Arts Fest is Aug. 28-29. www.bucktownartsfest.com.
The 63rd annual 57th Street Art Fair, June 5-6, is the Windy City’s oldest juried art fair, held in the Hyde Park neighborhood north of the University of Chicago. The event also offers an “Art Buying Boot Camp” June 5-6, with a personal tour through the fair and a chance to talk to local artists about the art-buying experience. www.57thstreetartfair.org.
Alicia Kelso is editor of CityScene.