Art In The Wilds to attract big crowds to Kane

June 21, 2012

Photo by Ted Lutz – Don Geci (left) and Ben Wortman (right) of Tent Express of St. Marys erect a tent Thursday for one of the 37 artists participating in the sixth annual Art In The Wilds Juried Fine Arts Show in Kane. The show in Evergreen Park runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking are free.

What began as a dream seven years ago has turned into the biggest summer tourist attraction in Kane.
The sixth annual Art in the Wilds Juried Fine Arts Show will be held Saturday and Sunday at Evergreen Park. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Admission and parking are free.
Between 4,000 and 5,000 visitors are expected during the two-day show, according to founder and director Marilyn Blackmore.
“We have 37 artists this year from six states including Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Delaware and Michigan,” Blackmore said. “Artists come to our show because they love the park and they love the Kane community.”
A “juried” show means that a three-member panel reviews the applications filed early in the year and selects only those deemed worthy of appearing in a “fine arts” exhibit.
“It’s tough to say ‘no’ to some of the artists who want to come to our show,” Blackmore said. “But we want the best. Good artists want to be in a show with good artists.”
The categories for the show include acrylics, oils, watercolors, drawings, pastels, clay, porcelain, photography, fabric and fiber and wood, leather and jewelry.
“Everything is handcrafted by the artists,” Blackmore said.
This means no one is permitted to buy items from a supplier and re-sell them at the show. All artwork is original.
Blackmore and her late husband, Dave came up with the idea for the outdoor art show at Evergreen Park.
Kane area residents, who attend the show and volunteer to assist in running the event, have embraced the concept.

See full article by purchasing the June 22 edition of The Kane Republican.