Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The Park Forest Art Fair is experiencing yet another resurgence this year with fifteen new artists presenting their works. Sale prices for art range from $30 or less to several thousand dollars. A woman from Crown Point, Indiana, Jennifer Green, purchased a piece titled “Interwoven” from inside the gallery of Tall Grass Arts Association. She paid the asking price of $800 and said this was not her first major purchase at the gallery.
The pieces inside the gallery feature a variety of styles, including an incredible 3-panel watercolor I wish I could afford.
Outside, the Village Green was replete with artists, with booths extending east on Main Street. To the north, food vendors offered a variety of meals, drinks, and snacks. North of that, the Main Street Music Fest was in full swing. eNews Park Forest heard Tempero Brasileiro playing, with flutist Julie Koidin leading the energetic trio as attendees relaxed, chatted, enjoyed food, beverages, and the communal atmosphere.
“We’ve got a lot of new artists,” said Mary Dankowski of Tall Grass Arts Association, “We’ve got a beautiful day. We invite everybody out to come see it. It’s beautiful.”
Ms. Dankowski noted a couple of the new artists at the fair, a wood carver, and a stone carver.
And it was beautiful. It is beautiful. That fall moment with summer weather, sunshine, and the conversations about art, life, whatever.
Scott Zuziak is one of the 15 artists new to the Park Forest Art Fair this year.
“I’m a woodworker at heart,” Mr. Zuziak says. “I’m a wood carver at heart. I am into recreating realistic natural scenes, whether it’s wildlife or florals. I’m into simplicity, and I’m into crossing some manipulated wood items with some natural wood items.”
One of Mr. Zuziak’s pieces on display at the fair was used by Tall Grass Arts Association in advertising campaigns for the event. It depicts a wolf nestled under some flowers atop a piece of driftwood.
The piece is stunning.
“You’ll see in all my work there’s a bit of either natural driftwood that we collect from throughout the country with my actual wood creations. That type of fusion is something that I’m always after, just a portrayal of the subject matter as realistic as possible. It’s something that challenges me. I love that type of challenge. It’s something that’s really fulfilling to me.”
Barb Mason of Flossmoor creates jewelry, “Funky, chunky, fabulously hip jewelry,” she says. This is her fifth year at the Park Forest Art Fair, her 11th year working as an artist.
“The art was beautiful. The music was fantastic. It was a wonderful day for everyone to be out to just enjoy the surroundings,” Mary from Crete said as she and a friend were leaving the Park Forest Art Fair in the afternoon. “We had a great time.”
The Park Forest Art Fair continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Downtown Park Forest.
The weather forecast is perfect: partly sunny, warm, with a high of 87 degrees.
Make the time to take the time.
When the cold of winter grasps hold of Park Forest and beyond, you’ll be glad for the warm memories of art, culture, outdoor camaraderie, and creativity.
