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2009 Poster design
from a painting
by
Don Nedobeck. T-Shirts are also available.
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The 30th Annual Art Fair Off the Square
took place July
11 and 12, 2009. Located
in downtown Madison along Martin Luther King Junior
Boulevard and on the Monona Terrace Convention Center
Esplanade,
it is a showcase for about 140 Wisconsin exhibitors
and includes a public art project, refreshments, and children's
crafts.
The 31st Annual Art Fair Off the Square will take place July
10 and 11, 2010.
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Don Nedobeck, Featured Artist. Don designed the first t-shirt for our fair so, once again, it was an honor to have him design the 30th Anniversary Poster and T-Shirt
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You can always find help
at our Information Booth staffed by PATC and Jill Hiestand.
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Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
is bustling with activity during the fair as patrons
come to buy art from their favorite Wisconsin artists.
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If you've never eaten
a Simply Delicious all-natural fruit bar at
the fair, you've never met our volunteers, Jacob (l.) and Patrick. These guys are surely good workers!
Two of our best volunteers, David C. and Patrick B., help put up our colorful windsocks and banners before the start of the fair. Believe it or not, those windsocks were created about 20 years ago by artist Barbara Fernekes-Hughes of Wauwatosa.
WAAC is always looking for volunteers to help at our two fairs. If you might be interested, send an e-mail to:
waac@artcraftwis.org |
Our Jury Chairman, Steve Siehr, talks with wood turner Eric Matthews of Madison. Does that smile indicate a successful fair?
There are lots of activities for children of all ages, some free and some for a nominal fee., under the "Big Top" on the steps of the City-County Building.
Becca Redinger had her gall bladder removed the day before the fair. She had never missed an art fair, and a little operation wouldn't keep her from missing the 2005 fair.
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Caricature artist, Bernie Tennis of Madison, always seems to draw a crowd as people wait for him to draw a whimsical, but accurate, likeness of them or their children.
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Children and adults participated in
our Public Art Project. In 2005, they helped create
a collage of botanical designs crafted in yarn. The completed "Blooming Art" project will be permanently displayed at the Belleville, Wisconsin, public library.
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WAAC's new Executive Director, Sue Werner.
Sue took over from Beth Ann Hamition in 2009. The almost full-time task of making certain everyone does his/her job, and that everything runs smoothly at our fairs is daunting. But Sue has proved herself capable of handling this enormous job and can multi-task with the best of them.
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Co-founders, Aimee (Wittwer) Jashea and Clarence P. Cameron are delighted to see that management of the fair is in very capable hands and to see how the Art Fair OFF the Square has matured over the years.
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Even with two bum knees our Art Fair Coordinator, Curtis Wittwer, still manages to keep everything under control.
An award winner in 2003 and 2004, Jim Kreitzer deserves special recognition. This is his 47th year exhibiting in art fairs
Octogenarian, Ami Lemberger, still paints but no longer exhibits at the fair. She planned to come to the picnic in 2009 but broke her leg instead. Ami served as the first secretary when WAAC incorporated in 1982.
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Some are able to see the entire fair from a different perspective.
Both East High and West High School ceramists participated in the art fair with their own booth. Let's hope someone of them has decided to be a potter for a living.
Mary Ann and Warren Olsen, sculptors from Verona, have been long-time exhibitors. Mary Ann has also served on WAAC's board of directors
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Ever heard the phrase, "starving artists"? You would know that it is true, especially at our free picnic for artists and their guests after the fair on Saturday evening.
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Picnic food servers? That's only one job these two faithful volunteers manage. Heather Wittwer (l.), daughter of Art Fair Coordinator, Curtis, serves as our "custodial engineer." Kay Knipfer is in charge of our t-shirt booth and works for one of our food vendors and picnic contributors, Queen Anne's Catering.
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Yummm! What a spread! Both thin crust and deep-dish pizza, chicken, homemade BBQ ribs, lasagna, salads, a ton of desserts, and much more came from our Artists' Picnic contributors:
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Thanks to these generous
Art Fair Off
the Square
donors |
Art Fair Contributors
A to Z Rentall
Alliant Energy
AudioVisual of Madison
Cameron Owls
Dane County Credit Union
Engineering Industries
Neuhauser's Pharmacy
Penske Truck Rental
Richard Russell
Signs by Tomorrow
State Bank of Cross Plains
U.S. Bank
Wildwood Productions
Woodman’s Food Markets
Publicity and Promotions
Capital Newspapers
Madison Downtown Ambassadors
Madison Parks Division
Madison Public Libraries
Magic 98 FM
My Madison TV, Channel 14
Wisconsin Department of Tourism
WISC-TV, Channel 3
Picnic and
Hospitality Donors
Bread Barn and Silly Yak Bakery
Brennan’s Markets
Copp’s Food Centers
Lane’s Bakery
Oakhouse Farm Bakery
Overture Center
Pizzeria Uno
Potter's Crackers
Scott’s Pastry Shoppe
Steep and Brew
Trader Joe’s
Whole Foods Market |
Special Thanks
A to Z Rental
Audio Visual of Madison
Brennan’s
Christie Howell-Yrios
Concourse Hotel
Copps Food Center
Country Inns and Suites
Culver’s
Dane County Credit Union
Dane County Farmer’s Market
Donna Himpler
Granite City Food and Brewery
Green Bay Packers
Kiwanis Downtown Madison
Lane’s Bakery
Madison Computer Works
Michael’s Custard
Monona Terrace
Neuhauser Pharmacy
Oakhouse Farm Bakery
Office Depot
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Oscar Mayer
Overture Center
P. F. Chang’s
Pancake Café
Penske Truck Rental
Pizzaria Uno
Potter’s Crackers
Rapid Refill Ink
Scott’s Pastry Shoppe, Inc.
Silly Yak Bakery and Bread Barn
Skatz Sports Bar and Nightclub
Starbucks
Suby, Von Haden & Associates,
S.C.
Sundance Cinemas
The Kitchen Gallery
Trader Joe’s
Whole Foods
Wildwood Productions
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| Saturday, 2008, was a pleasant, overcast day with a temperature in the mid 70s. Art fair patrons enjoy (and buy) the art, then head for the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Convention and Visitors Center rooftop to enjoy the view and the breeze. |
Sunday was sunny but not too hot or humid. The winds were a bit gusty, however, which always make artists worry a little. |
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And finally, "The Kids of WAAC"
Looking at this photo, it is so hard to believe! The "Kids of WAAC" are growing much too fast! (Does that mean WE are getting older?) Yesterday, they were babies, hidden in the back of their parents' booth. "Oh, isn't he cute, and what a head of hair!" or "She's precious—and she has your eyes." In fact, the parents of the young lady, front and center, packed up after the 1988 fair and went directly to the hospital for her delivery.
These "Kids of WAAC" are fast becoming young adults and, believe it or not, many of them are already talented visual or performing artists—or both. To top it off, they are very willing volunteers at the Art Fair Off the Square.
As WAAC's former Executive Director, Beth Ann Hamilton, puts it, "I'm so impressed with the enthusiasm of our young crew! Many have been
here every year of their lives and all have evolved into extremely
valuable volunteers. I think such commitment validates one of the many
benefits of volunteering. They wouldn't feel the same way if they were
just hanging out at their parents' booths. Having productive jobs to
do makes it fun for them to be here."
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Copyright ©2000-2009
The Wisconsin Alliance of Artists and Craftspeople, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin
All Rights Reserved
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