Park Forest’s history includes the founding of Park Forest Symphony (now the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra) and being the home of the former Equity-affiliated Illinois Theatre Center.
The village also is known for the 62nd annual Park Forest Art Fair set for Sept. 16-17. Presented by Tall Grass Arts Association, the event in downtown Park Forest is billed as the second-oldest juried art fair in the Chicago area.
“Park Forest is the birthplace of a lot of creativity. One element of that creativity is the visual arts,” said Janet Muchnik, chair of Park Forest Art Fair.
“Not only does the fair provide a big event of the year with lots of people coming to town and friends seeing each other, but it also makes Park Foresters proud and aware of the creativity that has been sparked in their community.”
Lansing artist Robert Lee Fritz, who works with glass, and mixed media artist and sculptor Carol Weber, a professor of art at South Suburban College in South Holland, are the judges for Park Forest Art Fair.
Of the more than 60 artists booked, 18 are new. Exhibitors come from the Southland and several states including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
“They’re all high-quality artists,” said Muchnik about the purveyors of mediums including fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, mixed media, painting, pencil drawing, photography, pottery, sculpture and wood.
“Every year in the past four or five years we’ve had a number of new artists and we’re very thrilled about that. We also have a lot of returning artists that people are familiar with. Some of the favorites will be returning.”
Those favorites include Glenn Woods and Keith Herbrand from Pottery Boys Clay Studios in Blue Island and Florida, and Park Forest resident Patricia Moore, who has exhibited at Park Forest Art Fair for more than 35 years and will show acrylic and mixed media paintings this time around.
“Pat teaches in several venues in the south suburbs. She teaches for the park district. She teaches for Tall Grass. She teaches in some of the public schools,” Muchnik said.
Organized by a committee that includes Tall Grass Arts Association president Diana Cruz, Park Forest Art Fair offers fine art, music and food plus opportunities to interact with artists.
“People don’t just stroll by quickly. People like to talk so the artists are geared up to talk to the people who come to the fair. That’s one of the joys of the fair,” she said.
The event does not only offer activities for adults. The Kids’ Art Alley includes castle building, the Children’s Art Contest, crafts and self-portraits.
“We put more of an emphasis on activities for children,” said Muchnik, of Olympia Fields.
Park Forest Art Fair attendees also can take in “Creative Imaginations” at Tall Grass Arts Association Gallery, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest.
“This particular show has no theme. It’s simply an opportunity for our juried gallery artists to show new works so I hope everybody will take the time to visit the gallery,” Muchnik said.
In conjunction with Park Forest Art Fair, the village hosts Main Street Music Fest from 11 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Sept. 16 in the downtown area. The free festival includes Rhythm System, Kaben Kafo, Michele Thomas and SoulMeme, Switchback and the Big Boppers.
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Patchouli provides the entertainment all day on Sept. 17. The acoustic duo features master guitarist Bruce Hecksel and singer-songwriter and guitarist Julie Patchouli.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Park Forest Art Fair
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 16-17
Where: on Main Street between Western Avenue and Orchard Drive, Park Forest
Admission: free
Information: 708-748-3377 (Tall Grass Arts Association) or www.tallgrassarts.org