With banner sunny weekend weather, the third annual Northbrook Art in the Park, produced by Highland Park-based Amdur Productions, had busy midways, attracting an estimated 5,000 attendees over the event’s two day weekend.
Patrons visited artist booths with many tents set along meandering paths at Village Green Park under heritage stately trees for two consecutive days starting May 20.
Northbrook Art in the Park took place through Sunday, May 21 with more than 80 artists.
“The park setting for Northbrook Art in the Park in the Village Green is the perfect location for an art festival,” said Amy Amdur of Highland Park, president of Amdur Productions, a fine arts festival company which she founded in 1984.
“It’s a great chance to get outside and see and shop unique art, take part in the community, and be with friends and family,” Amdur said.
“You can spend the whole day there, getting your steps in, eating tasty treats, listening to music, and enjoying spring time.”
Artwork included paintings, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, photography and more. Live music in the gazebo was by the Amdur event return duo, Cirrus Falcon. There were selfie stations and the new offering, Kids Art Stop, where children could learn about the art-making process.
Festival food options were offered on the premises although many patrons frequented local dining establishments to round out their weekend visit to downtown Northbrook.
Viviana and Josh Figueroa of Jefferson Park purchased event fare from Maria’s Mexican Food of Chicago, a food truck business in the Humboldt Park area.
“We like coming out and supporting local events,” Viviana Figueroa said. “It’s something to do.”
Admission to the event was free and leashed dogs were numerous and welcome.
Attendees could also bring gently used wall art to the festival where it would be donated to the Chicago Furniture Bank, a nonprofit that distributes furnishings and art to those leaving shelters and moving into permanent housing.
Several artists from this show also participated in Amdur Productions’ Green Ribbon Project.
These artists placed a green ribbon on a piece of art in their booth, and if the piece is sold, 10 % of the sale was donated to Amdur’s charitable partner, which this year is the Chicago Furniture Bank.
People purchasing art included Paris Pepoon of Northbrook who bought a scarf, perfect for traveling, from artist Shelly Lawler of Hoffman Estates.
“I made a scarf collection out of my work,” Lawler said.
Pepoon said about Northbrook Art in the Park, “I love it.
“I just think that it (the event) brings more people in, more sense of community,” Pepoon said.
“It’s something to do on a beautiful day.”
Lawler said about the show, “This location is so beautiful, it’s easy access for people, we have sidewalk walking, great parking, great area with restaurants, you can get a cup of coffee and have a great lunch, stroll the show,” Lawler said.
“People come in the morning early to see what’s going on, have lunch, come back and rethink it and then they’re purchasing it.
“It’s a great venue, great suburb, great clientele,” Lawler said.
“It’s a thrill to be here.”
Patrons were seen stopping to view the colorful digital artwork of Eric Lee of Northbrook, of the Glenbrook North High School Class of 2007. Lee was the only Northbrook artist to exhibit work at Northbrook Art in the Park.
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“It feels good to be here today exhibiting my art,” Lee said.
Olena Thompson of Northbrook visited the booth of mixed media artist Thelma Lugo of McAllen, Texas. Lugo’s 30 by 40 inch work called “Bringing Life,” and priced at $1,200, piqued Thompson’s interest.
“I’m always attracted to beautiful things and beautiful means different things to different people,” Thompson said.
“But something about this particular artwork, for me, it looks very beautiful.
“I like faces because faces show emotion,” Thompson said. “I love flowers, I like butterflies, and I guess all of this, just together, really made me stop and just admire this beautiful artwork,” Thompson said.
Lugo accepted Thompson’s positive feedback enthusiastically.
“It’s very interesting that people are looking at my art,” said Lugo, who indicated the weekend show was the first time Lugo exhibited art at this event in Northbrook.
“I love the people.”
View the rest of this season’s festival roster by Amdur Productions at https://amdurproductions.com.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.