The Park Forest Art Fair, sponsored by Tall Grass Arts Association (TGAA), will celebrate its 69th year during this year’s event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 20 and 21 in downtown Park Forest on the village green.
The artists hail from all over the metropolitan area. This year TGAA is pleased to host many favorite returning artists, such as Cheryl Osby of Flossmoor, Jenn Johnson of Homewood, Jean Lewis of Glenwood, Tara McGee of Hazel Crest, Deborah Bennie and Debra Glenn of Olympia Fields, Kay Neal of Country Club Hills, Bob Nardi of Oak Forest, Penny Shnay of Park Forest, and Susan Johnson and Jacqueline Moses of Chicago Heights.
New to the fair this year will be Jill DeBardelaben of Chicago Heights, and coming from Park Forest will be Clifford Contreras and Delaina Porter-Sanders.
For five years in a row, the Park Forest Art Fair has won the national “America’s Best Art Fair Awards” competition sponsored by ArtFairCalendar.com. Named as one of the “Best Overall Art Fairs”, the survey recognized Park Forest Art Fair as one of the best small, juried, fine art fairs in the country.
“This is the second oldest juried art fair in the Chicagoland region, and it has maintained its quality over the years,” event Chairwoman Janet Muchnik said. Muchnik emphasized the event always attracts a variety of talents, “some new artists and many who have exhibited continuously for nearly four decades.
“The Park Forest Art Fair visitors have a tradition here, of talking with the artists and in fact, the artists expect people to stop by and chat.
Tall Grass Arts, a not-for-profit organization, brings together a large volunteer force for the event, which helps keep costs low for the artists, in turn allowing them to sell originals at very reasonable prices.
Patrons will find offerings in photography, jewelry featuring original elements, paintings, woodturning, and hand-blown glass. These are just a few of the items available at this eclectic event. The Fair also offers the Kids’ Art Alley, which provides a range of hands-on arts and craft activities to delight the younger set.
Music plays a part during both days of the Art Fair. On Saturday, Rowgers Duo will play from noon to 1:15 p.m. Blend Acoustic’s set will follow from 1:45 to 3 p.m. Sunday will feature Kobie Knight, vibraphonist, from noon to 1:15 p.m. After a short intermission, Maine Lee, saxophonist, will play from 2 to 3:15 p.m.
Food vendors will be on site, as well as, several food establishments in the fair area.
The Tall Grass Arts Association Gallery, 367 Artists Walk in downtown Park Forest, will be open during the fair with its traditional summer exhibit of works by gallery artists.
Patrons at the fair can stop in at the gallery and view “The Whole Kit And Kaboodle” exhibit and shop in the Gallery Gift Shop.
More information can be found online at www.tallgrassarts.org, on the Tall Grass Facebook page and/or by calling the Gallery at 708-748-3377.
