Every Fall for the past 29 years the front lawns of historic Edwards Place have been transformed into an outdoor art market. This year over sixty artists from across the Midwest will be displaying their original paintings, drawings, prints, and photos; glass, ceramics, metal, and wood; fibers, fashion, and jewelry for sale on Saturday the 15th and Sunday 16th on the campus of the Springfield Art Association at 700 North 4th Street. Many artists who are local favorites are returning along with plenty of new artists to discover. We will have live music, food vendors, a beer and wine tent brought to you by Just the Basics Catering, and our ever popular used book sale which supports the Michael Victor II Art Library. Historic Edwards Place will be open for free self-guided tours throughout the Fair. There will be a guided tour on Saturday at 1PM for $5 and a special Servant’s Tour on Sunday at 1 PM for $5. There will be artist demonstrations, hands-on art making activities, and our ever popular Buffalo Hunt.
New this year is Kid Picks, our new purchase program for children 12 and under. Artists who are participating in the program will have items in their booth for sale to children for $5 and $8. This way the young art patrons can meet the artists, ask questions about their process, and have a complete art purchase experience. Also new this year, on Saturday afternoon from noon to 5 PM we are offering a raku firing event for all ages. Just $15 buys a ceramic pot that is ready for glazing. Once the pot is glazed, everyone can watch the pots being fired in our raku kilns. Raku is a dramatic process where the pot is brought up to red hot, removed from the kiln and placed in combustible materials, after it has flamed and smoked it is submerged in water to bring it back to air temperature. These extreme measures create dramatic effects in the glazes.
In a collaborative effort with the Enos Park Neighborhood improvement Association, their annual house tour with be happening on Saturday, September 15th from 1 to 5 pm so that fair goers can also have the opportunity to learn more about the neighborhood, see some of the restoration projects and see some of the homes still awaiting a new owner and some tender loving care. More information on the EPNIA House Tour can be found at www.epnia.com.
There is something for every member of family, including the dog. We are a dog friendly event with treats for leashed dogs at the SAA membership tent.