Spotlight on art in Saint-Charles this holiday weekend – Shaw Local

Art will take center stage in downtown St. Charles this weekend at the 24th Annual St. Charles Fine Art Show.

More than 90 artists representing a variety of mediums – including oil painting, digital art, jewelry, photography, glass, printmaking, sculpture and wood – will be represented at the show.

“Every year some of our favorites return,” said Sue McDowell, who has chaired the show since its inception – first under the arm of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership and now under the St. Charles Business Alliance. “But we always have room for new artists. I would say 35-40% of the show are artists who have never been to the show before. So it’s always fun for everyone to see.

The juried art exhibit, sponsored by St. Charles Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 28 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 29 on Riverside Avenue between St. Main (Route 64) and Illinois Street in downtown St. Charles.

The show will take place rain or shine. The St. Charles Fine Art Show resumed last year after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. in September 2020, the show was merged into St. Charles Jazz Weekend following its cancellation.

In addition to the artwork on display, there will be activities all weekend that the whole family can take part in. Participants will be able to express their creativity by painting a used car donated by St. Charles Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

“Everyone will get a chance to paint on it,” McDowell said.

The activity is one of many that will take place in the Jeep Activity Zone in the parking lot of The Graceful Ordinary. All Things Art Studio will offer activities for children and works by student artists from Elgin Community College will be on display.

Musicians will perform all weekend at Flagship on the Fox and Pollyanna Brewing Company. More details are available at stcharlesfineartshow.com/entertainment.

The pandemic has impacted the show in one way or another.

“We have a few artists that were supposed to be here last year that couldn’t be because of COVID and everything,” McDowell said. “One is a sculptor from Colorado whose work is phenomenal.”

Along with the exhibit, several businesses in downtown St. Charles will be showcasing artwork. The 116 Gallery – located in the Mixology Salon Spa – will showcase works by Jack Magurany, Chris Newman, Lori Small, Deanne Gibson and Jeffrey Equality Brooks.

Alter Brewery + Kitchen will highlight works of art, along with other businesses such as Arcedium Coffeehouse and Pollyanna. Additionally, the Arcada Theater will host a photography exhibit showcasing 100 of the best concert photos from the past 20 years taken by its three in-house photographers.

More information about the St. Charles Fine Art Show is available at stcharlesfineartshow.com.