Summertime Art Festival Season

It’s fair time in the city of Chicago, and hundreds of street festivals and pop-ups are drawing large crowds to support local artists and creative businesses. Lincoln Square Pottery Studio - Learning Center has a long history of offering its students a spot in the action. This year is no different.

LSPS-LC’s pride and joy are its students and their creative journey. There is nothing better than watching a new artist go from struggling to center a ball of clay, to mastering beautiful commissions a few years later. Part of the non-profit’s goal is to showcase the students’ talents, and give them the opportunity to sell their work and gain confidence. Twice a year, an in-house event celebrates their wares. The Annual Holiday Sale and Show, as well as the Anniversary Sale and Show in April. Students are encouraged to purchase (for $20) a shelf, table or wall space with 100% of their sales profits going right back to them. The indoor events draw good-sized crowds of local supporters and fans, but lack the immense, browsing audience of outdoor festivals.

**Student (and volunteer) Alice Huang Hollowed has come a long way in her techniques. Now she can “plank” and throw at the same time**!

Back in the aughts of 2000, the studio took part in its first festival. The Ravenswood Artwalk was founded more than 20 years ago to showcase the industrial corridor’s hidden gems; its art studios. Tucked into old warehouses and manufacturing buildings, artists flocked to the large and inexpensive work spaces. People like internationally renowned ceramics sculptor Ruth Duckworth called the corridor home, as well as several art centers that attracted big name artists. LSPS-LC was within a few minutes walk of the fest, and joined the festivities. Biddle, her students and volunteers hauled folding tables, chairs and their ceramic wares up to the second floor of a building on Ravenswood and would wait for the attendees to show. Though the two days were a long time to sit and sell work, the artists did well and enjoyed the interactions.

**A few of the 30+ artist display shelves at the studio (at left), a few of the donated cups made by students on the “tea” shelf (all for sale as well)**

In later years, the studio’s coveted inside spot at the Artwalk didn’t draw as much foot traffic. The event had changed, with most people visiting outside tent spots, listening to musical performances and spending money at food trucks. A pop-up tent, weights and tables were borrowed, and three of the studio’s artists got to meet the outside crowds and sell. The days where ten or more of LSPS-LC students spent their time together at the Artwalk was over, and the event just never had the same community appeal.

**The first time LSPS-LC had a tent at the Glenwood Ave Arts Fest**

The Glenwood Ave Arts Fest in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago seemed to be a good fit for the studio. Not only was the area filled with creative types, but people from around the city and suburbs would filter in to attend. Two stages on each end of Morse Avenue and a multiplicity of performers keep attendees at the fest late into the night. Glenwood Avenue (the studio’s preferred spot), is nestled between the tree-lined EL line and rows of little restaurants and shops. The shady spot has a cooling appeal in mid-August, and the cobble stone streets add extra charm. The studio’s two massive tent spots and five tables worth of artist’s goods keep the space filled with admirers and buyers. The great location attracts large crowds that get to know the artists, as well as information about the studio. The event is the perfect vehicle to promote the non-profit and its classes, as well as give new and seasoned ceramicists a way to make money from their work. The artists simply roll up with their work, set it up and let the public respond to what they like best. The experience gives insight into art trends, as well as providing a low-stress fair experience to those who have never tried it. On their own, these artists might not try a festival- it’s a great deal of work and financial imposition for a single person.

**Setting up the double tent spot at the Glenwood Ave Arts Fest in the Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago**

Ten artists will again be setting up their wares and hoping the weather stays pleasant during the upcoming Glenwood event. Saturday (8/19/23) will feature Charmaine Rogers, Zoe Rosenfeld, Lois Kim, Melissa Meigides and Ann Cibulskis. Sunday (8/20/23) will be Richard Zeid, Mindy Stillman, Julie Oh, Atticus Zavelle and Kris Magnuson. The LSPS-LC tent will be on the South end of Glenwood Avenue this year instead of North.

Some work representing the artists that will be showing and selling at this year’s Glenwood Ave Arts Fest. From left to right clockwise (starting with polka dot tumbler); Melissa Meigides, Richard Zeid, Kris Magnuson, Lois Kim, Ann Cibulskis, Julie Oh, Atticus Zavelle, Zoe Rosenfeld and Charmaine Rogers

Most recently, the Holly Jolly Holiday Market (a block down from the studio in North Center) is the newest outdoor festival the studio has tried in a number of years. This mid-December event had the potential to be a bust, but despite the time of year, people show up in force. Santa, elves, hot chocolate, artwork and a festive atmosphere has lured LSPS-LC back to the event three years in a row. Smaller ceramic items have sold extremely well, considering most are bought to be gifted during the holidays. Despite the freezing temperatures, the studio’s artists come prepared with plug-in heaters, snow trekking outfits and a supply of hot beverages.

**BRRRRR. Artists try to keep warm during the Holly Jolly Holiday Market in North Center in December**

Cold weather like that at the Holly Jolly Market are power for the course when it comes to outdoor fairs. The first year of this event, the studio’s tent placement was the end point of an alley that created a wind shute. The tent was held down with more than 100lbs of weights, but that did nothing to keep the pop-up from flying several feet into the air. Several neighboring vendors lost their shelters, but luckily the studio’s volunteers resorted to selling without cover. Rain and extreme flooding seem to plague the summertime festivals. A freak thunderstorm with rapid rainfall flooded the tents at the Ravenswood Artwalk about ten years ago, leaving artists sitting on their tables while desperately trying to pack up their artwork before it became damaged. Glenwood has seen its share of rainwater back-ups as well. Several successive years, the artists in the North section of Glenwood Avenue used a bucket brigade-like action to sweep water through each tent spot and down to a drain. LSPS-LC students are a tough breed; come what may, they revive frozen fingers with sips of hot toddies, wring out soaked socks and drag heavy equipment around just for a chance to sell a mug or two. And the studio is there to cheer them on every step of the way!

Jim Headley

Zoe Rosenfeld