By now, readers probably have figured out that I am an art fair junkie. A few weeks ago, one of my favorite annual fairs, Art on the Square, confirmed my commitment to the cause. This pastime is not only about viewing art (and crafts) and chatting directly with their creators, or about coming away with bags of goodies (although that is certainly fun when it happens). It’s more about respecting the creative toil of artisans and seeing the unique ways they build on traditional methods. For example, there was a watercolorist who took pictures of flowers, used Photoshop to amorphously transform them and then painted the new, restructured flora into compositions that both resembled flowers and didn’t. Fascinating.
And then there’s the sense of community with art fairs. The exhibitors are a community of their own, and so is the hosting entity—in this case, the charming city of Belleville, Illinois. The 600 volunteers who do everything from bring refreshments to the artists (sometimes homemade, I understand) to help them carry artwork and set up their booths are also a community, a hard-working one for those three days. And, of course, fairgoers are part of a community, as they wander the 100 booths mingling with artists and other shoppers and browsers.
Remember, it’s not only about the art. There are hands-on workshops for children, live entertainment, seating areas to just kickback and enjoy the scenery (of which downtown Belleville, with its early 20th-century architecture, has plenty), and, of course, food booths. I had the good fortune to choose Beast Craft BBQ for my lunch stop. The Belleville eatery was serving up brisket and pork tacos and its signature fried brussels sprouts (a decadent basket of deep-fried goodness topped with butter). Beast is opening a St. Louis location in The Grove this fall.
It was an excellent afternoon all around, as art fair afternoons usually are. Don’t worry if you didn’t get to Belleville last month. Fall is prime art fair season, which means plenty of fun is ahead for those who want to participate. The Saint Louis Art Fair in Clayton will be here before you know it on Labor Day weekend. Mosaics on St. Charles’ Main Street comes Sept. 14 to 16, and the Best of Missouri Market is the first weekend of October. Many others are scattered around the area and beyond, in idyllic spots like Washington, Missouri, and Kimmswick. They vary in size and location, but all offer something you don’t get every day: the opportunity to interact with artisans on a personal level, to talk about their process and inspiration. Did you know that inspiration is contagious?
