Saturday morning, what is a person to do? Time for an art fair fix.
Maple & Main Art Fair, Sylvania, OH, May 31 & June 1
About a 2 hour drive down the toll road delivers me onto one of those small town main streets that you see in the movies. I travel often to Los Angeles to visit my kids so whenever I find myself in a town like Sylvania I think "who even knows that these places are still here in our country?" Yes, artists know because we get to many idyllic places: think Madison (IN & WI), Lafayette (IN & LA), Columbia (SC & MO), Cedar Key (FL), Northhampton (MA), Cape May (NJ), Estes Park (CO), etc. But people who are in the midst of large cities don't have this sense of discovery and renewal that artists encounter many weekends throughout the year. Another perk of our business, being in the heart of America.
Maple & Main is an art fair sponsored by the Sylvania Arts Commission and the Sylvania Chamber of Commerce. Frankly, I'm so used to seeing empty storefronts in the towns of the upper Midwest that it is a thrill to walk down a street with nice restaurants, high end clothing shops, a fine gallery (Hudson Art Gallery), no chain stores in a historic district that the trip was worth it just for that.
This was the second year for the show and there were approximately 70 artists. Someone had done their homework because it had all the artists on the main drag with a stage at one end and sponsors and food tents on the side streets. Just what an artist wants and what makes a show work.
Reported to me by participants:
- easy drive up to load in and out
- hotel a block away with easy parking and a quick walk to the booth
- streets cleared and ready for set up
- at early morning check in everyone received a breakfast bag with a bagel, etc.
- plentiful volunteers
There were heavy rains (maybe 5") the night before so people were glad they had not set up on Friday night.
A few AFI members:
Kathy Funderberg and Lou Ann Frey who does cool sgraffito glass
photographer Scott Pakulski & his cool fan...
Although many of the artists were pretty local there were folks from Virginia and Tennessee, etc.
On Saturday night they have a gala ticketed affair to honor a prominent artist from the region, drawing people late in the day to visit the show prior to the event.
Easy to do, inexpensive, worth keeping an eye on for next year?
As a gardener I was fascinated by this shrub. Anyone know what it is?
Visit the show's website for more photos, a video of the event and lots more info:
http://www.sylvaniaarts.org/fine-art/maple-main/
and what the local press had to say:
Comments
Several people have shared their ideas about the shrub pictured above. Thanks! Marguerite, do you have it planted in sun or shade?
This shrub was just one in about five varied ones planted in front of a very cool old house and they all looked to be native species, but I recognized the others.
That bush is an elderberry, likely the variety "Black Lace" as it looks to be a twin to the one which I have planted in my yard in memory of my black, white and tan collie named Lacey. It's latin name is Sambucus Nigra.
Had a great time at Maple & Main. Hope that this event continues to build to be a fabulous art fair that the area folks look forward to visiting/buying and the artists are still treated like the kings and queens of the event! This whole town of Sylvania was behind the whole event (as it should be in all areas) but it was certainly refreshing to be involved with.
Load in & out was very organized and loads of helpful folks that even helped load your vehicle if you needed it! And, yes, the goodie bag in the AM was a welcome gift! There was even local chocolate in the bottom of the bag! ;] On a side note the worry of horrible weather never gelled into reality! The clouds parted and left us alone on Saturday..sparkling artists in the light!
I was there as well! Absolutely loved it! Such a well run show! The people were great, the crowd was there and buying. I will be back without a doubt next year. I traveled from Columbus which was about a 2.5 hour drive for me, not too bad.
I also highly recommend Paddy Jack's for food! :-) We ate there both nights cause it was so good.
Maple and Main is a great show! I consistently have good sales there!
Sylvania is a great town for art. Our fair is about 45 minutes to the north, and I get enthusiastic responses from people in Sylvania whenever I poster there. It also seems to be a place that really supports its downtown.