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2006 Poster design
from a drawing
by
Kae Taylor. T-Shirts are also available.
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The 2008 Art Fair Off the Square
took place July
12 and 13. 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 30th Annual Art Fair Off the Square will take place on July 11 and 12, 2009.
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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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Two hard-working people: Bill Redinger,
our Art Fair Chairman and Beth Ann Hamilton, WAAC's
Executive Director. Without them, there would be no
fair. (Bill is also Art Fair Chairman for our Winter
Art Festival)
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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 did make it to the picnic, however. 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
Audio Visual of Madison
Alliant Energy
Cameron Owls
Dane County Credit Union
Engineering Industries
Bill and Jeanette Godding
Very Merry Holiday Fair in Baraboo
JuryVision
Magic 98
Marlow Nelson
My MadisonTV
The O’Brion Agency
Penske Truck Rental
Richard Russell
Signs by Tomorrow
State Bank of Cross Plains
Tuttle Lithography
WBUW-TV
Wildwood Productions
WISC-TV
Wisconsin State Journal
Woodman’s Food Markets
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Picnic and
Hospitality Donors
Bella Caffe
Bread Barn and Silly Yak Bakery
Brennan’s Markets
Concourse Hotel
Copp’s Food Centers
Country Inns and Suites
Cranberry Creek Cafe and Grill
Crave Bros. Farmstead Cheese
Culver’s
Granite City Food and Brewery
Lane’s Bakery
Michael’s Frozen Custard
Oakhouse Farm Bakery
Overture Center
P F Chang’s
Pancake Cafe
Pizzeria Uno
Rapid Refill Ink
Scott’s Pastry Shoppe
Starbucks
Steep and Brew
Sundance Cinema
Talula on Atlas Restaurant
Trader Joe’s
Whole Foods Market
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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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