Manning her jewelry booth Saturday morning at the West End Art Festival, Kelly Jacobson noted the pleasant fall day.
“There’s nothing better for an event like this than good weather,” she said, “and there’s nothing worse than bad weather.”
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Indeed, La Grange’s premier art event began its 27th edition on a cool Fall morning and was scheduled to run through the weekend of Sept. 9-10.
This year’s festival drew 65 artists who presented work in an eclectic variety of mediums, ranging from watercolors, acrylics, and photographic portraits, to jewelry, glass, ceramics, and mixed media.
Jacobson, a Naperville-based metalsmith, back in La Grange for her fourth festival, noted the size of the event made it special.
“It’s a small festival, but I like that,” she said. “Unlike bigger shows, where everything is rushed, you get a chance to talk to people.”
Another jewelry maker, Deborah Kerr, hails from Brazil and showcased work including bracelets, necklaces and other pieces inspired by the cultures of South America.
“I source my materials with Brazil and South America,” she said. “That way, it helps them with their economy. Some of the finishes are natural, some are dyed.”
Kerr uses seeds, nuts, and pods for her raw material. She showed a ring carved out of a piacava nut and a necklace fashioned out of recycled buffalo horns.
La Grange Art League members had several entrants in the festival, including Jennifer Myers, a Brookfield-based mixed media artist who describes her work as laser and wood-carved landscape textures.
“Everyone’s out today, and I’m seeing some people from past years,” she said. “Usually, people are just looking the first day, but today, I’ve already made a couple of sales. So far, so good.”
Great Lakes Art also showed laser and woodcarvings, but the subjects were generally focused on maps of the Great Lakes area.
“We did the show here last year and did good, but then it rained on Sunday,” Paul Wouk, a 1974 graduate of Lyons Township high School, said. “We’re doing OK today.”
Potential customers began to swell the crowd around noon.
Joe and Kathryn Thielmann recently moved to La Grange from Chicago.
“We’re looking at a lot of things from Deborah Kerr Jewelry,” Joe said as the pair sat munching on burritos.
Friendship Benches from the La Grange Summer Art Project — themed Happy Together, and sponsored by the La Grange Park District — were all auctioned off on Sunday at 5 p.m.
Food vendors included Antonino’s, Monk’s Burgers and More, and Taqueria Mi Taquito. Activities included Face Painting by the La Grange Art League, Kids Activities by Lyons Township High School students, and Kids Crafts conducted by the La Grange Public Library.
The Alex Rodriguez Quartet, The Do-Rights, and Bad Ass Gumbo performed Saturday near the historic Stone Street Train Station. Sunday’s musical schedule included the R. Wesley Carr Trio, the New Swing Collective, and Reginald Lewis and Company.
Presenting Sponsor of the event was Jack’s West End, the men’s clothing store at 712 W. Burlington Ave. Other sponsors include the Posey Law Group, FNBC Bank and Trust, North Hill Framing, and Renewal By Anderson.
Also sponsoring the Festival was the La Grange Business (LGBA) Association, and its executive director, Cathy Domanico, was happy with the results of this year’s festival.
“This beloved festival has something for everybody,” she said in the days leading up to the festival, and when it was over, she remained upbeat. “Overall, we are very pleased with the West End Art Festival. Guests seemed to have a very good time and we are looking forward to next year’s Art Festival.”
The Art Festival is also a juried affair, with several awards being handed out on Sunday afternoon. Domanico provide the winners:
Best in Show went to Oscar Metas Linares Photography; 1st Place — Carolina Garzon, Mixed Media; 2nd Place — William Pasetti, Glass; 3rd Place — Julie Matos, Jewelry.
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Contacted after the festival, Kelly Jacobson was satisfied with the weekend.
“I did great and had a great show,” she said. “I sold more than I did last year, but there was the rain on Sunday last year. I was impressed with the community and how friendly everyone was.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.