Almost 80 years after art lovers first gathered at Rockford’s Greenwich Village Art Fair, the event is still going strong.
The two-day outdoor art fair, held Sept. 14-15 in the parking lot of the Rockford Art Museum (RAM), 711 N. Main St., Rockford, is the largest and longest running art fair of its kind in the Midwest. Now in its 76th year, the Greenwich Village Art Fair first made its debut next door, on the lawn of the Burpee mansion.
“It was kind of the same thing back then,” says Carrie Johnson, executive director and curator for the Rockford Art Museum (RAM). “It’s always been about fine artists and making sure they are seen, can sell their work and meet others in the community.”
As the biggest fundraiser of the year for RAM, Greenwich Village Art Fair is deeply woven into the organization’s history, so much so that the museum and the event are almost completely synonymous with one another. Johnson wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s such an important fair, not just for our artists, but for our community and the region,” she says. “So many people in Rockford have childhood memories of coming to the fair. It’s such an established part of our history.”
This year, close to 100 artists and vendors from a dozen disciplines will gather at the art fair. It’s a significant increase from the 15 local artists who displayed and sold their work in 1948.
“It was picturesque,” says Johnson, of the first art fair. “It was on this beautiful lawn and people used fences to put their paintings on display.”
The first fair didn’t have the benefit of the dozen or so food vendors and food trucks that converge on the scene these days. Fair fans might be horrified to learn that Kortman Gallery Point Bar, a pop-up drinkery and cherished meeting place on the grounds for 20 years, wasn’t there back then either. Nor was the kid’s creation tent where kids get to make and take home their own artwork.
What has remained since 1948 is RAM’s dedication to giving artists a place to connect with the public. Art buyers find artwork in a variety of disciplines including painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, leatherwork, printmaking, woodworking and glass. The fair attracts artists from around the country and beyond, but its impact on Midwestern artists, and local artists in particular, has made it an important staple.
“A lot of people come here to buy art,” says Johnson. “It’s a great place to come and have fun, but a lot of people are here to collect.”
The show has also been a launching point for careers. Betsy Younguist, a local sculptor and beadwork artist, has exhibited her sculptures nation-wide. Before her absurdist creations became nationally known, she sold them from a booth at Greenwich.
“I always tell new artists to do Greenwich,” says Johnson. “It’s a great way to meet and have one-on-one conversations with art collectors.”
It’s also gratifying for Johnson to see just how many people in Rockford love and support the local art scene. Between 4,000 and 6,000 people walk through the gates every year.
One thing they’re guaranteed to see is an up-close view of the arts in action. Harvey Littleton, considered the father of the studio glass movement in America, was at the very first fair demonstrating his process. The late Jim Barbagallo, a Rockford-based ceramic artist, carried on the tradition for years. Since his death in 2014, Barbagallo’s son, Shawn, is spinning the wheel all weekend, much to the delight of visitors.
For Johnson, hands-on demonstrations foster a deeper appreciation among buyers.
“When someone can see how the scarf they’ve bought is dyed, or can see something thrown on a pottery wheel, it adds a fun educational component,” she says.
Plenty of parking is available on the surrounding streets. As in previous years, Rockford Mass Transit District offers its trolley to shuttle visitors to and from the art fair. Stops and times are posted online at greenwichvillageartfair.com.
Artists to Impress at Local Art Fair
