ART FESTIVALS — THEY’RE BACK

ART FART FEST ESTIVALSIVALS

They’re Back!

PAINT THE TOWN RED — IN-PERSON OUTDOOR ART FAIRS AND EVENTS HAVE RETURNED

By Diane Krieger Spivak | Photos provided by Starved Rock Country Festival of the Arts

After a year of canceled events and more time at home than ever, it’s time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. What better way than with an art festival?

There are a number of great ones this year, among them a newcomer to the lineup — the Starved Rock Country Festival of the Arts. It was meant to make its debut in 2020 but canceled due to the pandemic. Now the festival is scheduled for Sept. 24-26 in downtown Ottawa. Several events will take place at Washington Square Park and spread throughout downtown to the Jordan Block, Art & Sculpture Gardens, with several streets blocked off.

“We’re doing three days of arts and music and community,” says Shanna Dugan, arts fund administrator for the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation’s Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund, which is putting on the event. The event is funded, in part, with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. “Community is the big one for me,” says Dugan. “We’ll have live music

CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL ART FESTIVALS & OUTDOOR EVENTS:

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS July 10-11, July 17-18 Illinois Railway Museum 7000 Olson Road, Union www.irm.org

ARTIST & MAKER MARKET July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 19 Blumen Gardens 403 Edward St., Sycamore www.blumengardens.com

ARTS & CRAFTS IN THE PARK July 17 Veterans Memorial Park 3400 Pearl St., McHenry www.visitmchenrycounty.com

GENEVA ARTS FAIR July 24-25 Downtown Geneva www.genevachamber.com

OTTAWA ART LEAGUE'S ART IN THE PARK Aug. 7-8 Washington Square Park 101 E. Lafayette St., Ottawa www.ottawaartleague.com

FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS IN GLEN ELLYN Aug. 28-29 Lake Ellyn www.downtownglenellyn.com

OAKBROOK ART FESTIVAL Sept. 11-12 Oakbrook Center 100 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook www.amdurproductions.com Friday night through Sunday afternoon. We’re trying to work with as many local musicians as possible. We’ll also have a juried art show. We have judges respected in the art field judging our art show entries.”

Visitors will also be able to check out the artisan market where the artists will set up and sell their works. Visual works of art will be displayed in public and in businesses throughout the Ottawa downtown and surrounding area. Visitors are encouraged to eat at local restaurants and support downtown businesses.

A special feature will be the Narrative Film Fest, taking place at Roxy Cinemas. The event will include more than 30 independent films over the three days. Some will be short films of just five or 10 minutes, while others will be full-length films. “There will be a large variety,” assures Dugan. Both artists and filmmakers will be competing for cash prizes. Don’t forget to bring the kids! An entire committee has been dedicated to putting together free, hands-on art activities for the younger ones. “We like to keep everything family- and budgetfriendly,” says Dugan. “Hopefully, we’ll offer them some exposure to different art museums that kids may not have experienced before. We’re working with a lot of local artists, and there are a lot of local artists on our committee, so we’ve got a very art-minded, communityminded event planned.” To add to the weekend’s fun, the fund has partnered with the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce to host the arts festival alongside the Scarecrow Festival. “We will intermingle all of that Saturday downtown to have lots of events for families and kids,” says Dugan. The group is also working with the Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living to stress inclusivity in the arts festival — “not just accessible, but completely inclusive for people with different abilities,” says Dugan. The event will follow health guidelines. Dugan attended a spring webinar for arts events relating to the pandemic, at which top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci was the opening speaker. “He felt confident that arts events should be held relatively safely by late summer and early fall,” says Dugan. “We’re operating on that frame of mind.”

Are you interested in participating?

Artists can apply at www.fotasrc.org. All entries must be original and owned by the artist; application deadline is Aug. 23. All application requirements are available on the website. Confirmation of acceptance into the show will be sent by Sept 1. Filmmakers, as well as musicians interested in performing, can also apply online.