Art fairs have become as important as festivals and cookouts when it comes to celebrating summer here in Naperville. Next weekend sees the return of the Naperville Fine Art and Artisan Fair, held by Naperville Woman’s Club at Naper Settlement.
As the club celebrates their 125th anniversary, this year’s fair later this month is their 62nd. In fact, it’s been held at this location since 1968, a year before the Settlement was established.
The popular, family-friendly event features free painting at the Petite Picassos Kids’ Tent, a silent auction, an Empty Bowls sale by ClaySpace and the opportunity to browse and purchase from more than 100 artists and artisans.
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Since 2019, visitors have been invited to make a community mural. Fairgoers of all ages can paint a small section of the 8-foot-by-12-foot mural, which is displayed in its entirely by the end of the weekend.
This year’s piece is “Starry Night: Bride and Groom” by whimsical artist Cat Clausen.
“It’s a way for patrons of the fair to not only view and purchase art, but to join with other community members in the creative process,” art fair Director Marie Gnesda said.
It’s a particular thrill for Clausen, who is attending the art fair for the third time.
“I absolutely love the festival, the people are terrific and very supportive,” she said.
The mural combines two of her great loves, Van Gogh and Abraham Lincoln. It features Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, flying across one of Van Gogh’s night skies.
Clausen says she first took an interest in Lincoln in third grade.
“We were shown a film called ‘The Face of Lincoln’ in which a sculptor created a bust of him at age 20 and then aged him with his hands as he told his story. I went home and pulled up some earth and made my own version. I was so taken by Lincoln and artwork that I’ve loved him ever since.
“I have seen over 100 Van Gogh paintings in person and when I painted Lincoln in Van Gogh’s bedroom, I laughed all day. That was the key. I want to bring smiles and humor to people especially now in the current climate of the world.”
Chairmaker William Boyle is back after achieving great success during his first appearance last year, when he won Best in Show. Boyle divides his time between working in business insurance and recreating 18th century American Windsor chairs. As he prepares to retire, he’ll be devoting more time to his craft.
“I’ve always been interested in wood and making something you can use,” he said. After beginning by carving spoons and coffee scoops, he signed up for various courses and masterclasses.
“I always try to create something of value. I prefer commissions because a chair is something personal,” he said. “I can custom make it for exactly the right size.”
Each chair takes between two to four weeks to make by hand.
“They’re very popular because you can’t just buy them anywhere, they’re unique,” he said. “People in the market for them want to treat themselves to something special. They’re heirloom pieces.”
The chairs begin as an assortment of logs which Boyle obtains from tree trimmers or timber yards. Different species are used for different parts. The spindles might be red or white oak and the seats white pine, walnut or maple. Spindles have to be strong but flexible, while the seat needs to be light and easy to curve.
“People are drawn to them because of the unique shapes of the seats. Some say their grandmother had one just like it,” Boyle said.
“They all start out as logs from different sources. I take them to my shop and cut them into wedges with a sledge. They’re split by hand, and I use hand tools to make them. When you come to the art fair you will see American 18th century designs that I’ve made myself.”
Artist Susan R. Wilson was raised in the Midwest, where she says the flat and unobtrusive landscape was the most prevalent aspect of the environment. Her paintings are designed to reveal the conflict and harmony in the relationship that exists between earth and sky.
“I love talking to people and getting their responses to my work,” the Lisle artist said. “Some people really like bright colors and some prefer muted. My frames are six-inch-wide gold. Some people will not like them, others love them.”
Wilson paints with oil sticks. She describes her style as rogue fauve because she doesn’t stick to nature’s colors.
“I paint blue trees, yellow skies and orange grass,” she said.
Wilson, who didn’t go to art school until she was 38, began painting in northwest Iowa, where she was born.
“As a child I used cattle markers to paint because a professor suggested I go to a farm store to find the pens they use to mark hogs or cows when they are going to market because they won’t wash off,” she said.
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“I went to the store and bought all six colors for six cents each. I used linseed oil and beeswax as a binder so I could lay down the colors and blend them.”
The Naperville Fine Art and Artisan Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 25-26 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St.
Hilary Decent is a freelance journalist who moved to Naperville from England in 2007.