Chartreuse and pink beasts seven feet tall staked out their territory in the center of Port Clinton Square in Highland Park last weekend. But a patrolman standing on the corner nearby didn’t call the animal warden. He appeared to be eyeing thousands of people who swarmed the square.
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From across the street, Highland Park Patrolman Peter DeRose was observing the action and the other policeman. DeRose was having to prove that he was real.
“See? I can move,” he said. DeRose pointed to the lifelike patrolman that was part of Wisconsin sculptor Marc Sijan’s exhibit. “He’s the dummy,” DeRose said.
The colorful animals were just as inanimate. They were part of Wisconsin sculptor Dennis Pearson’s herd of fiberglass “Beasties.”
The two sculptors were among the more than 260 artists with booths in this year’s Port Clinton Art Festival. Celebrating its 10th year, the art festival had attracted approximately 1,000 applicants.
“The quality of the work was so high, we could have taken the top, middle or bottom third and had a great show,” said Amy Amdur, festival director, who credited the heightened interest among top artists to the fact the festival made a number of best-show lists in 1993 and ’94.
“It’s taken 10 years, but we’re considered among the top shows nationally now,” she said.
Carol Emer of Highland Park, who was lugging a hand-painted, tiled wall piece just purchased from Michigan artist Pat Custer Denison, said, “The art is wonderful. I always see something different, and I come every year.”
It was the first time Denison exhibited at the show. She definitely wanted to return. “We’re doing terrific. They just ran us over this morning. If it continues like this, it will be our best show,” said the artist, who has been exhibiting at art shows since 1970. Her wall pieces range from about $400 to $750.
Even the young artists, about 60 local students up to age 17, were doing well. Diana Weinstein, 12, had sold a pastel and an oil painting before noon. A Highland Park resident who studies art in Wheeling, Weinstein said, “I’m really happy. I didn’t think I would sell anything.”