The heat didn’t keep the crowds away from the Marion Art Center’s Arts in the Park, held at Bicentennial Park on Saturday. Hundreds of people browsed the 44 booths featuring local artists offering jewelry, glass, paintings, textiles, collage, photography, carved and painted wood, ceramics, garden furniture, and garden sculpture.
“This is our seventh year doing this,” said Deb Bokelkamp, Executive Director of the MAC. The event ran from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm, with plenty of food offerings for hungry patrons. The shade offered by the many booths brought patrons closer to the art works offered for sale. Artists answered questions about their work and some were creating a new piece while visitors watched.
New this year, the event had a raffle table with one item donated by each artist in the juried show. Tickets were $1 each and people flocked to it hoping for a chance to win one of the beautiful handcrafted items displayed. Former MAC Executive Director Wendy Bidstrup, along with her daughter Laurie Knight, manned (or womanned) the raffle table, chatting and socializing with friends old and new. Lunch was available, and many took advantage of the shady area where the food was served.
“It’s a beautiful day to take a walk in the park and admire local creativity,” said Bryce Bozadjian, who was visiting her grandmother in Marion for the holiday. Bozadjian volunteered to staff the lunch table with her cousins. “This is fun.”
By Joan Hartnett-Barry
