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TC Style Magazine

On The Cover

Wednesday, May 30, 2007 2:48 PM CDT

Sugar Creek Arts Festival
By Mary Ann Ford

Shandor Madjar gets some of the inspiration for the jewelry he makes by walking through Home Depot. “It’s one of the best places,” he said. “There’s a lot of inspiration from mechanisms and how they work.” Many of his creations are kinetic have movement. Madjar, of Colorado Springs, Colo., is one of several new artists selected for this year’s Sugar Creek Arts Festival July 7 and 8.

The show will be the largest in history, featuring more than 200 artists, and for the first time extending into the Illinois State University quad. The show has featured around 150 artists the last few years.

The 2007 show attracted about 350 applicants from throughout the country, more than ever before, said Doug Johnson, executive director of the McLean County Arts Center, which coordinates the show with the town of Normal and WGLT radio.

“Other artists have given it high ratings on the setting, the town and the people who run it,” said Joan Mulvehill of South Rockwood, Mich., who along with partners Larry Kiefer and Lisa Robideau creates metal pieces.  “The McLean County Arts Center is more aware of what a professional art show should look like,” she said. “They understand what people who are professional artists want.

This is the 15th year Mulvehill and her partners have taken part in arts festivals. They will surpass their 800th show this year.  “We do a lot of unique, one-of-a-kind pieces,” said Mulvehill. “A lot are functional, benches, tables, whimsical garden pieces, plant hangers and bird baths.”  While the three each have their own area of expertise in metal, Mulvehill said “we share the responsibility of design and execution of the work.  “We try to keep prices reasonable so people can enjoy what we do,” she said.  Prices will range between $25 and $250.

Bartos, who creates ceramics, has a similar philosophy.  “Most of it is basic, no frills and functional,” said Bartos. “It’s pleasing to the eye but real simple.  His style bridges oriental design with European influences.

Touring the arts festival circuit is a new venture for Bartos, a former teacher in Alaska. The plan was fast forwarded when his workshop in Alaska burned to the ground the day after he sent in a deposit on a house in South Dakota.

“All my tools burned, all the equipment,” he said. “I lost all my slides the special tools I’d made.  “In a weird way, it was a good thing: we didn’t have to move all of it.”  But, he said, it’s hard to replicate some of the tools. “Sometimes the first time is perfect.  “The good thing is it was all just stuff. The whole family was with me and so no one was around (when the fire broke out.)”  Bartos was in the midst of transitioning from teaching to the festival circuit. “The fire pushed me into it faster.”

Some of his pieces will feature his signature carved out areas in the pottery.  “In 30 years of making pots and looking in books and magazines, I’ve never seen the carving,” he said.  He’s been working on the technique for about 12 years.  “It’s getting more and more elaborate,” he said. “They’re fun. It’s a neat way to get an artsy piece for a discount price.”  Mugs he makes are about $26.

The creativity of Madjar’s kinetic pieces combined with some use of carved deer antlers and silver settings tip his jewelry to another price range  from $60 to $400.

Madjar apprenticed under a California designer for just over six years after he graduated from high school. He went out on his own at age 22.  He does about 25 shows in the spring, summer and fall and works on designs during the winter months.  “I combine a lot of filigree with modern ideas,” he said. “It’s taken off quite well.”

The artists will be among 210 chosen for the 2007 juried art show coming from 20 states.

Fernando Cornejo and Jeanine Abels of the Twin Cities are two of the 63 artists returning from last year.  “I think competition is great for those at shows for several years,” said Cornejo, who received the 2006 first place award for fine arts. “It keeps us on our toes.”  Abels said the larger show could attract more out-of-town people.  “It’s been good,” Abels said of her 14 years offering her abstract/collages at Sugar Creek. “People get to know your work and come back for that.”

Cornejo has some concerns about expanding to ISU a move prompted by street work in uptown Normal because festival goers have been used to the show taking place solely along the uptown streets.  “It’s great as an expansion,” he said, but added he hopes customers can get used to it.
 

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At a glance

What: Sugar Creek Arts Festival

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Begins west of Constitution Trail on North Street in uptown Normal and continues west into the Illinois State University quad

Cost: Free
 

Getting around

The 2007 Sugar Creek Arts Festival will begin just west of Constitution Trail on North Street and continue west on North Street into the Illinois State University quad at the Fell Gates, off School Street, just north of Hovey Hall. Besides artists, the quad also will feature an entertainment stage. Additional vendors will be in front of the old ISU union and around the "In Exchange" area on School Street. The Children's Discovery Museum will offer children's activities at an area near Watterson Towers, east of The Alamo parking lot.
 

Festival parking

Click the links for maps of these locations.

Several parking lots and a shuttle service will be available for those attending this weekend's Sugar Creek Arts Festival in Normal. All listed parking is free.

• Illinois State University parking garage at School and Beaufort streets (first floor only; about 70 spaces)

• ISU parking garage on University Street, north of Beaufort and east of the ISU tennis courts

• ISU Bone Student Center lot

• Public lots at City Hall, 100 E. Phoenix Ave., and at Parkinson and Linden streets

• Chiddix Junior High School lot, 300 S. Walnut St.   The town will offer a shuttle service from the Chiddix lot to the Amtrak depot from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
 

Entertainment lineup

Entertainment for the Sugar Creek Arts Festival will be located on two stages: at Broadway and North Street and on the ISU quad. Following is the performer lineup for each:
 

North Street Stage
 

Saturday, July 7
10:00 Sugar Creek Cloggers
11:00-12:30 Sally Weisenberg & The Famous Sidemen
1:00-2:30 The Delta Kings
3:00-4:30 Hip Pocket
 

Sunday, July 8
11:00-12:30 Dave Berchtold and Steve The Harp
1:00-2:00 Mt. Pisgah Gospel Choir
3:00-4:30 Heartland Jazz Orchestra


Quad Stage

Saturday, July 7
10:30-noon Joe Metzka and Friends
12:30-2:00 Backyard Tire Fire
2:30-4:00 Southside Cindy & The Slip Tones
 

Sunday, July 8
10:30-noon Wise Guise
12:30-2:00 David Hoffman Quartet
2:30-4:00 Mike & Amy Finders

Sugar Creek Arts Festival expands and grows

By Mary Ann Ford
mford@pantagraph.com


NORMAL -- "More" is the word to describe the Sugar Creek Arts Festival this year. There will be more artists, more food, more entertainment and more ground to cover during the festival's run Saturday and Sunday.

"Every aspect has expanded," said Doug Johnson, executive director of the McLean County Arts Center, which coordinates the show with the town of Normal and WGLT radio. "It puts us in the big league."

The festival will feature a record 210 artist booths. The lineup will begin on North Street, west of Constitution Trail, and, for the first time, continue onto the Illinois State University quad.

"The partnership with ISU is really ideal," Johnson said. "It gives us extra space, expands the size and exposes the public to the quad. The Fell Arboretum (on the quad) is really one of the prettiest areas in town."

The move also helps the festival work around construction in uptown Normal.

Johnson and Normal's Community Development Director Steve Westerdahl have been working on alternatives for this year's festival for four or five years, knowing the uptown redevelopment plan would influence the space.

"The university came to us knowing we were pressed for space," Westerdahl said. "They wanted to help us out and enhance their (150th anniversary) celebration."

The extra space allowed the Arts Center to accept 60 more artists than last year. Johnson said word of the expansion brought in a record 315 applications from across the nation.

"The quality was as high as it's ever been, too," he said.

The pool includes numerous new artists and 63 returning favorites like Twin City residents Fernando Cornejo, who earned the 2006 first place award in fine arts, and Jeanine Abels, who also has won awards with her abstract collages.

"I think competition is great for those at shows for several years," said Cornejo. "It keeps us on our toes."

Abels said the expansion also could attract more out-of-town festival-goers.

Cornejo's one hope is that the quality of the artists remains the same with the expanded festival.

Shandor Madjar from Colorado Springs, Colo., is one of the newcomers. Much of his kinetic jewelry includes carved deer antlers and silver settings. Prices range from $60 to $400.

"I combine a lot of filigree with modern ideas," said Madjar, who apprenticed under a California designer for six years after high school. He went out on his own at age 22.

Shandor usually participates in the Ann Arbor, Mich., arts festival and looks for others in the area. He said he found the Sugar Creek Arts Festival on the Internet and decided to apply.

Joan Mulvehill of South Rockwood, Mich., said Sugar Creek gets high ratings from other artists so she and her partners, Larry Kiefer and Lisa Robideau, decided to apply.

"Other artists gave high marks for the setting, the town and the people who ran it," she said. "The Arts Center has added an extra bit of professionalism to it.

"They are more aware of what a professional art show should look like. They understand what people who are professional artists want."

This is the trio's 15th year traveling the arts festival circuit. They have sold their metal work at more than 800 shows. Prices range between $25 and $250.

Artist Dan Bartos originally taught and sold his pottery in Alaska but recently moved to South Dakota. Many of his pieces feature his signature carved-out areas.

"In 30 years of making pots and looking in books and magazines, I've never seen the carving," he said. He's been working on the technique for about 12 years.

"It's getting more and more elaborate," he said. "They're fun. It's a neat way to get an artsy piece for a discount price."

Mugs he makes are about $26 each.

Besides new and familiar artists, the festival will feature two entertainment stages -- one in its typical spot at Broadway and North streets, the other on the ISU quad.

Westerdahl said the Broadway stage will offer up-tempo music and the quad stage will feature more laid-back music. There will food choices at both areas.

The festival also will include activities from the Children's Discovery Museum, but in a new spot between Watterson Commons and the Alamo II bookstore. The museum parking lot is inaccessible because of uptown construction.

The children's area will feature a rock climbing wall, arts and crafts, and face painting.

 

Sugar Creek arts fest to wrap around ISU's quad

Samantha Maldonado, of Tampa, Fla., left, watches as Sujata Dey-Kontz, of Champaign, draws the Experience of Mehndi in henna on her hand at the Sugar Creek Arts Festival in downtown Normal in 2005.	Article in the Pantagraph Front page, March 1, 2007

By Scott Richardson
srichardson@pantagraph.com


NORMAL -- It couldn’t get any sweeter for the popular Sugar Creek Arts Festival. The 24th annual event, scheduled for July 7-8, will feature more artists and circle the Illinois State University quadrangle for the first time.

ISU, which is incorporating its participation in the festival into the yearlong observance of its 150th birthday, is allowing fest-goers to use its parking facilities.

“The festival has been busting at the seams,” said Doug Johnson, executive director of the McLean County Arts Center, which hosts the event. “This is a nice leap.”

“We are thrilled about it,” added Carol Struck, director of ISU’s sesquicentennial festivities. “We think it’s a good partnership with the town of Normal and the McLean County Arts Center.”

Johnson said the university came to the festival’s rescue when event planners realized planned construction in uptown Normal would force them to abandon North Street from Linden Street to Constitution Trail.

The 2007 event will stretch from the trail west along North Street and onto the quad.

The extra space on campus means the number of artists will increase to 250 from last year’s 149, Johnson said. In addition, the event will feature two main stages for musical entertainment instead of the usual one.

The second stage will feature acoustical music and be located on the quad or in the area between Stevenson Hall and the quad, which is closed to motorist traffic.

About 14,000 people attended last year’s festival. Johnson hopes added parking and more to see will raise turnout by 25 percent.

“I want to see enough people there to support the artists. It really is about them,” he said.

Johnson already has seen signs the event will be more popular than ever. As word of a bigger and better Sugar Creek Arts Festival spread through artists’ networks, about 2,000 exhibitor applications already have been downloaded from the art center’s Web site. That number does not include applicants who are on the list to receive copies of the center’s newsletter.

“We haven’t seen this level of interest ever before,” said Johnson, who hopes the changes become permanent.

2006 Sugar Creek Arts Festival Award Winners

Back Row: Tim Francis, First Place Fine Craft; Gil Rocha, Second Place Fine Art; Rebecca Goodwin, Second Place Fine Craft; Doug Johnson, MCAC Executive Director; Front Row: Fernando Cornejo, First Place Fine Art; Gerard Erley, Best of Show.

Past events:

Juror's Statement "It was a privilege for me to be today's juror and exciting for me to see such a display of talent and diversity of creative expression. It was not an easy task designating just a few awards, as I made note of so many interesting pieces.  It is great to see that the Sugar Creek Arts Festival brings out such strong work by artists and the deep appreciation of the arts by the community." -Stephanie Roberts, MFA, Professor of Art, City Colleges of Chicago

Back Row: Tim Francis, First Place Fine Craft; Gil Rocha, Second Place Fine Art; Rebecca Goodwin, Second Place Fine Craft; Doug Johnson, MCAC Executive Director; Front Row: Fernando Cornejo, First Place Fine Art; Gerard Erley, Best of Show.

Sugar Creek Artists 2006