Artists sharing the artistic process – from blank media to masterpiece, all day on Saturday, August 14 in Sister Bay.
Artistic demonstrations at art festivals may be commonplace, yet few festivals require every artist to demonstrate their craft for the public as artists must do at the Door County Festival of the Arts (DCFA). The 7th annual DCFA is held August 14, from 10 am to 5 pm in the recently expanded Sister Bay Waterfront Park at the northern end of the Door Peninsula.
Each DCFA artist shows off their talent not only with finished pieces of fine art at the Festival, but by demonstrating their artistic process to the public during at least two scheduled times in the day.
This concept of demonstrations by each artist is unique to the Door County Festival of the Arts and brings an air of participation and engagement with the public to the Waterfront Park in Sister Bay.
“By demonstrating our techniques, I work to open up doors that have been opened for me,” says Sister Bay-based artist Tom Seagard. “I invite people in, to their level of expression and understanding, so they too can understand the artistic process.”
Whether they travel the world or Wisconsin for inspiration, the DCFA is an invitational Festival and features only fine artists who call Door County home or use the peninsula as a base of operations, and who are willing to demonstrate their creative process.
As a means to engage creative minds of any artistic level, the DCFA hosts an Activities Tent, where children of all ages can unleash their creativity through a variety of mediums.
“When you give children an opportunity, they express themselves effortlessly, all you have to do is get out of their way,” Seagard says. Seagard taught art at public schools and continues to teach classes around Door County. al johnson
New this year, is an Activities Tent for Adults and the Make Your Mark project – an opportunity for everyone who comes to DCFA to share their artistic talents with the community. The Make Your Mark project boards will be stationed around the Waterfront Park for DCFA visitors to draw on, graffiti, or create a masterpiece.
Artists, like Egg Harbor-based watercolorist Kari Anderson, have participated in DCFA for years, some since the Festival’s inception in 2003 at the Hardy Gallery in Ephraim, just down the road from Sister Bay.
“The show has developed a strong reputation for high quality work,” Anderson says. “It’s unique, because it’s an invitational show for Door County artists, which gives people from other cities an opportunity to see how artists make a living on the peninsula.”
Also returning this year, is a FREE ENTRY drawing for pieces of artwork donated by participating DCFA artists. Anyone who attends the Festival is eligible to enter!
For more information, call 920.854.3230 or visit: www.doorcountyfestivalofthearts.com
