On Saturday I participated in a neighborhood festival in Chicago, and it was the first outdoor art tent I’ve set up in probably a decade. It was something that caught me a bit by surprise, when my friend and former student Satish asked me to do it with him and another friend/student Phyllis, just for fun. There was no entry fee, no pressure, and we would be in the company of three other artists, a bunch of other vendors, four live bands, and basically it was an end-of-summer community party. Satish, Phyllis and me, all mixed media artists, had a tent for kids of all ages to make house collages. Other artists demonstrated and had activities in printmaking, block printing, and clay – a nice variety.
Galewoodstock was the name of the event, and there had to have been at least a thousand people who came through. It was a beautiful day, the music was great, and everyone had a great time.
It was a marking of the end of summer to me, although Labor Day is next week. I had taken a break from teaching, shows, and otherwise engaging in art in the form of “work” for three months. I painted in my studio and did quite a bit of sketching and mixed media practicing, but no lessons, admin, applying for shows, etc. I also had a big summer of family, which was wonderful. We had houseguests, did the Chicago tourist thing, went on a couple of road trips, and stayed with my parents in Philadelphia for a couple of weeks. I got to spend a lot of time with my nephews, who are all teenagers and one who just turned 21.
I also played a TON of tennis, joining the Fox Valley outdoor clay court league for the first time, the USTA league, and I had a standing date to play doubles with friends on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. During Wimbledon we had a special event where we used old wooden racquets (for at least one game), dressed in white, and had a lovely English breakfast afterward.
It really felt like SUMMER this year, which was so nice after 2020 and 2021, where mandates and limitations of visits and fear of contagion kept us apart. Not that it’s over entirely, but this summer felt much more joyful and connected.
Anyway, onward to Autumn we go! I am offering two mixed media classes again at the Oak Park Art League starting in mid-September, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Register here. The Tuesday class is almost full, and the Saturday class still has several openings. Register early for discounted cost!
Hope to see you again soon!
