Annual Arts Fair showcases artistic variety

Jose Soto crafted a ring from a spoon for Connie Soto when they were in high school 40 years ago.

Now, the couple runs Twisted Tines, a jewelry business based out of Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Saturday marked the 34th annual Arts Fair on the Square in Bloomington, which is an event of the nonprofit community theater the Bloomington Playwrights Project.

Twisted Tines was one of 80 art displays featured on the Monroe County Courthouse lawn.

Jose and Connie have brought their jewelry to the fair for five years, and Connie said they try to include a new design each year.

In addition to other designs, this year they showcased a double heart, where the two middle fork prongs form the double heart pendant of a necklace and bracelet.

Connie said there was a good crowd, and she was thankful it didn’t rain.

“People are getting out and can appreciate the many wonderful artists,” Connie said. “There’s a great variety, and it’s great people can get that in one place. We’re very thankful to be considered part of the group here.”

Tents covered the lawn and included art such as handmade scarves and clothes from repurposed fabric, stained glass, woodwork, pottery, candles, paintings and photography.

Local artists shared their crafts alongside artists from Kentucky, Iowa, Florida and various other parts of the country.

Performers entertained the audience at the top of nearly every hour. The Bloomington Community Band kicked off the event at 10 a.m.

The modern dance group Windfall Dancers, the barbershop quartet Jordan River Crossing and the belly dancing troupe Dark Side Tribal were just some of the
featured live performances.

Amy Duffy, from Deerfield, Ill., attended to support her father, Tom, of Tom Duffy Photography.

But her first stop was the Children’s Art Center, which provided activities to keep children occupied.

Five-year-old Cassidy Duffy-Callan wanted her face painted with a colorful unicorn, and Lisa White of All Smiles Clown Company happily obliged.

“I wanted it to sparkle,” Duffy-Callan beamed.

Amy said she didn’t have a chance to look at many of the other exhibits, but she was enjoying the fair.

“It’s a nice community event,” she said. “It’s fun to see neighbors and family from my parent’s neighborhood, which is where I grew up. Besides the humidity, it’s a pretty perfect day.”

Her father, Tom, still lives in Bloomington, but he travels the world for his
photography.

“I like to do environmental shots,” Tom said. “The goal evolves.”

Event manager Lee Burckes said the fair’s purpose has also evolved through its 34 years.

What used to be a chance for local artists to share their work has changed because of the recent allotted gallery space in Bloomington.

“The needs have changed, and in a sense we have to change,” Burckes said. “It’s important to have artists from far away so we’re bringing new art into Bloomington.”

Terry Andrews, of Waters Edge Studios, made the trip from Ocala, Fla., to sell his copper and glass sculptures.

“I get my inspiration from nature,” Andrews said. “I love the idea of line and color.”
He had previously participated in the Fourth Street Festival of the Arts and Crafts, and this was his first year taking part in the Arts Fair on the Square.

“Bloomington is an educated town, people understand artwork and they like glass,” Andrews said.

In her fifth year as manager, Burckes said they strive to improve the fair each year.
“I think it goes more smoothly every year,” she said. “The turnout seems great.”

She said the crowd was thin at the beginning and dissipated near the end, and she hoped that meant people were at the Farmers’ Market and the Taste of Bloomington, respectively.

“For people who come from out of town, it’s a great draw to see you’re not coming for one event, but for all this stuff,” Burckes said.

Bloomington resident David Kaufman graduated from IU in 1976, and he recently moved back into town.

He said the event did its job in that it brought people downtown and attracted others to the city.

“If you don’t have art and other cultural things, what do you do besides your 8 to 5?” Kaufman said. “It’s a wonderful escape.”