Twelve Artbeat artists to exhibit at prestigious ‘Fair in the Park’
“A Fair in the Park” will be held this weekend in the lush surroundings of Pittsburgh’s Mellon Park. An estimated 20,000 visitors will have the opportunity to interact with more than 100 regional and national artists — including 12 from Greene County — working in a variety of mediums such as clay, fiber, wood, jewelry, glass, metal, mixed media and two-dimensional art.
If longevity is any indicator of public interest, the celebrated “A Fair in the Park” certainly qualifies for time-proven renown.
Now in its 45th year, the three-day event held in the lush surroundings of Pittsburgh’s Mellon Park in Shadyside draws an estimated 20,000 art and craft lovers.
Twelve artists included in the inventory of the Artbeat Gallery in Waynesburg will be included in this year’s fair. Five Greene County artists will also join the 111 artists from the region and nation showing their artistry amid a full schedule of live entertainment and food vendors, which this year will include food trucks selling a diverse menu of culinary treats.
Jim and Linda Winegar, co-owners of Artbeat, have exhibited their pottery at “A Fair in the Park” since the very beginning in 1970 when it was held at Allegheny Commons on Pittsburgh’s North Side. The Winegars estimate they’ve participated in 35 of the 45 fairs since its inception.
“We missed a few when we were living in New England, but even came back for some of them while we lived out of the area,” Jim Winegar said. “We also missed several when I was teaching or otherwise indisposed, but we’ve managed to make all of the last 25.”
Always a strong show for the husband and wife potters from Graysville, the fair has allowed them to introduce their work to people in an area a little distant from Artbeat and Waynesburg. Over the years, they’ve developed a dedicated group of followers who come to the fair to buy Winegar pottery for themselves and as holiday gifts for family and friends.
“I’m probably excited about this year’s fair because organizers made the effort to bring in top quality artists and crafters, entertainers and food trucks and vendors,” Jim Winegar said.
The fair is a presentation of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh, and any member of the Guild is eligible to exhibit at the fair.
About half of this year’s exhibitors are Guild members. The other half are artists and crafters from the region and across the nation, who must be juried into the show.
“We probably had 40 percent more applicants this year, so the jury has been able to be very selective as to who they chose,” Jim Winegar said.
In addition to the Winegars, other Greene County artists participating in the fair are fused glass artist Jeff Moyer, leather worker Bill Elwood and potter Laura Schlesinger.
“‘A Fair in the Park’ is one of the most selective art events in the region, and the quality of the work is as strong as anything you’ll find,” Jim Winegar said. “The only other fair that might come as close is the Three Rivers Arts Festival.”
Artbeat artists are also well represented in the fair. They include Laurie Leonard, a jeweler who works in pewter, Diane Wilson, a porcelain and terra cotta jeweler, Mary Hamilton, a limited edition block print artist, Paul Sirofchuck, a furniture and wooden box maker, Nancy Gates, who makes hand-sewn, hand puppets and dolls, Russell Shaffer, who works with embossed paper images, Susan Radford, who weaves sweaters, scarves and other clothing and Steward Webb, a jeweler who incorporates electronic and computer parts into his work.
Among the activities for children are creating an amazing creature or animal from fancy paper, Creative Cans full of art and craft materials that can be turned into anything you’d like, Color a Backpack and face painting.
The live music entertainment schedule is as follows:
n Friday, Sept. 5: Jenny Wilson Trio, 1 to 1:45 p.m. and 4 to 4:45 p.m.; and Ruby Red and the Dirty Devils, 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
n Saturday, Sept. 6: Cello Fury, 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m., 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.; and
Dan Baker Trio, 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. and 3:45 to 4:30 p.m.
n Sunday, Sept. 7: Matt Miskie, 10 to 11 a.m.; “Celtic Indian” Arvel Bird, 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:45 to 3:30 p.m.; and Lovebettie, 1:15 to 2 p.m. and 4 to 4:45 p.m.
n Calliope, The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society, Impromptu performances daily.
“A Fair in the Park,” which will be held at 6300 Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh, is from 1 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6. Admission and parking are free of charge.