In more than one way, artists were wet behind the ears at the first Art in the Park show nine years ago. The event, sponsored by the Midwest Artists Association, consisted of a handful of exhibitors showing their work out in the open with no shelter, remembers Jackson Isaacs, MWAA exhibit co-chair. And as you may have guessed, it rained.

“The next year we decided to rent a big tent,” he laughs. “That was a big boon for the artists.”

At the Art in the Park to be held this weekend at Civic Center Park, there will be plenty of tents, not to mention 20 more experienced artists displaying a wide range of original art for viewing and for sale. The event runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

“There are several media represented, all showing outstanding works,” says David Garrison, who specializes in photography.

It’s an opportunity to see local art that you ordinarily wouldn’t get to see, Issacs says, since most of the artists do their work part time and don’t market or sell it on a retail level. Garrison, for example, is a retired doctor by trade. Likewise, the featured artist this weekend is Jerome Hernandez, who is employed by Nestle Purina full time and is a watercolor and digital artist on the side.

Hernandez says when he started exhibiting at the fair four years ago, people he knew were surprised to find out he was an artist.

“Hometown artists were the best kept secret in town,” Isaacs says. “Nobody knew about them.”

One reason may be because there are few venues for showing and selling local art, Isaacs says. And there is a risk. It’s not always profitable. It takes experience to learn what and how much art to bring to a show. Plus, there are always critics.

“A lot of artists are closeted and have their own inhibitions about coming out,” he says. “Some of them don’t even want to show their work. Then they have to go through the mental process of selling the work and letting go of the work. So we bring them out of the closet and put them in the public eye.”

The result is a show that’s rewarding for both the public and the artists.

“You get a good feeling when someone purchases a piece, especially in these times when gas is close to $4 a gallon,” Hernandez says. “They are buying your art, and it means something to them.”

“Telling the stories of each picture is a large part of the photography experience for me,” Garrison says. “Positive feedback from art supporters by conversation and by purchasing works gives any artist a feeling of fulfillment.”

As for the public, at the minimum it’s a nice day in the park and you can’t beat free admission.

“Come down and enjoy,” Isaacs says, “We don’t even put a fence up.”

— Sylvia Anderson | STJOELIVE STAFF