Local fine art show also hit by economy, starting anew in ’09

By Julie Snyder
C & G Staff Writer

ST. CLAIR SHORES — The best little art fair in Michigan just got littler.

But the 22nd annual Lac Ste. Claire Fine Art Fair, which will be held Sept. 19-20 at Veterans Memorial Park, will be big on variety, talent and panache.

Art Fair Co-chair Dave Martin said the annual event traditionally attracts close to 25,000 art lovers to St. Clair Shores looking for that one-of-a-kind piece made by one of some 150 artists from around Michigan, the country and Canada.

“We’ll have between 85 and 100 artists this year at the park, so we’re hurting,” said Martin. “But it will still be a great show. A small show, but it will be good.”

Painters, watercolorists, sculptors, abstract artists, wood carvers, photographers, jewelry makers and more are involved in the art fair, which is aimed at improving culture in the city.

“The economy is hurting us, too,” said Martin. “This will be our rebuilding year. We’re starting out small and mighty and we’ll grow from here.”

To aid in the rebirth of the Lac Ste. Clair Fine Art Fair, Martin is recruiting young art lovers to help find more artists.

“How we started 22 years ago was with a group of retired seniors who traveled around to art shows looking for artists to invite here,” Martin said. “It worked great and we became a huge show, but times have changed.”

Martin, who is co-chairing the event with longtime fair organizer Elizabeth Munger, said the event has been wildly popular since its inception in 1987 when it was held in front of City Hall.

Also popular are the Miss St. Clair Shores Scholarship Pageant booth where children can make crafts with this year’s pageant winner, and members of the St. Clair Shores Senior Activities Center will again be selling their homemade apple pies, and more.

Senior Center Activities Coordinator Sue Fickau said the pies will be sold before the fair at the senior center at 20000 Stephens and during the fair for $10 each. Sugar-free pies are $12, and individual pie pockets will be sold for $3. Seniors will also be selling caramel apples at their booth for a $5 donation to the center.

Proceeds from the apple pie sales each year benefit the center’s USDA Meal Program.

“We made 1,000 pies last year and every one of them sold,” Fickau said. “Our goal this year is 1,200 pies.”

The Lac Ste. Claire Fine Art Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 19-20. Veterans Memorial Park is located on Jefferson at Masonic. Parking is free and admission is free. To become involved in the 2010 event, go to www.lscartfair.com, or visit the Fine Art Fair booth.