Editor’s note: This story was originally published by the Belleville News-Democrat, a news partner of St. Louis Public Radio.
About 90 artists from around the country and one from Israel are scheduled to appear at Art on the Square in downtown Belleville Friday through Sunday.
“We’ve got some brand new artists that have never been here before and then of course we have some that have been here before,” said Mayor Patty Gregory, who is the founder of Art on the Square.
Julie Harvey, who chairs the Competition Committee that is the liaison between the show and the artists, said the artists are in a busy time this fall as art shows resumed with loosened coronavirus restrictions and she was pleased with the turnout.
“A decision to come to Belleville is really not only a validation of their being accepted into the show but also a validation of how they feel about Art on the Square,” Harvey said.
“It’s been a long haul for everyone but we’re just delighted with the group.”
This is the 19th edition of Art on the Square. It has been staged annually since 2002, except for 2020 when it was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The show is usually in mid-May but this year it was moved to October because of the pandemic.
There is no admission fee. Here are the show’s hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; and 11a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Here’s where you can find the full schedule or go to bit.ly/Bellevilleart . For more information, go to the show’s website at artonthesquare.com.
About 80 of the 2021 artists were invited to last year’s canceled show and decided to make it to Belleville this year.
Don Nedobeck, who was regularly invited to show his work at Art on the Square, died last year, and in his honor, his family has been invited to display his artwork of whimsical pieces that often featured cats.
“Husband, father, grandfather, artist, musician, author, daydreamer, pathological optimist and kind soul,” is how his family described Nedobeck, who was 85.
“If one’s success can be measured by the amount of joy they bring, then Don was the richest man in the world.”
Gregory said she remembers Nedobeck as being “quite the character.”
“Kids love him and families love him,” she said.
Nedobeck was known at art shows all across the country, Gregory said.
“There’s always been a high demand for his work,” Gregory said, and his family’s booth this weekend will give patrons a chance to buy the artwork by Nedobeck.
Saturday will mark the first anniversary of Nedobeck’s death.
Harvey said the invitation to Nedobeck’s family is “our tribute to a really wonderful man and a really fine painter.”
The following list includes descriptions from Art on the Square about the artists scheduled to appear this weekend:
Digital/Graphic design
Michael Brown of Antioch, Illinois
“My hybrid optical art printmaking process can be used to create either animated graphics or three-dimensional imagery. The basis for my art is a technique invented in the early 1900s to make 3D pictures that could be viewed without special glasses or viewing instruments.”
Geoffrey Harris of Lexington, South Carolina
Original digital paintings created entirely on a computer. The inspiration for the paintings are vintage toys and games from the 1950s.
Shawn Ray Harris of Trinidad, Colorado
In 2003 he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant, which helped build a portfolio of work giving him confidence to move to a larger city. In 2008, he became a resident of a 35-person artist’s community in San Francisco and later moved to Colorado to escape the “concrete jungle.”
Mark Hurd of St. Louis
“My artwork consists of archival, limited edition, signed and numbered, ink on paper prints created using a unique technique combining my photography, drawing and coloring individual shapes and then layering them together digitally. The artwork resembles a silkscreen or woodblock print, but the palette is limitless, with vivid saturated colors.”
Dewey James of Minneapolis
“My work tells stories that are rich in color, vintage in thought, and contemporary at heart. Whimsical yet structured, blending sentimental themes such as iconic circus and amusement park imagery or elements of nature with cultural themes, all using bold applications of color and contemporary graphic sensibility.”
John Leben of Saugatuck, Michigan
“My imagery ranges from landscapes to still lives to rather techno-centric imagery. For me, technology has been both a boon and a curse. I’m constantly frustrated by it, but I’m also surprisingly enthusiastic about the possibilities of using technology as an art medium.”
Lou Zale of Deerfield, Illinois
His work is included in the permanent collections of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the University of Iowa and the University of Wisconsin.
Fine craft artists
Kristin Gereau of Waukesha, Wisconsin
Scarves made with “eco-friendly fibers” on a knitting loom.
Phillip Hall of New Smyrna Beach, Florida
“Abstract” jewelry cut and carved from materials such as acrylic, silver gold, brass, aluminum, copper, bronze and steel.
Jon and Patricia Hecker of Bloomington, Indiana
“Handmade, wooden story boxes, vessels and beaded curtains.”
Rebecca Hungerford of St. Joseph, Michigan
“Whimsical and animated” artwork crafted from pewter.
Sylvester Robinson of Chicago
“Leather is formed around and or into wood blocks that are hand carved with unique abstract designs or faces and then made into handbags.”
Samuel Yao of Ann Arbor, Michigan
Sculptural baskets are “hand woven with material from palm trees.”
Sandra Zak of St. Louis
“My pottery reflects both the practical and creative sides of my personality, contrasting strong utilitarian forms with designs, lines and patterns that complement the spontaneous nature of clay.”
Jewelry
Nichole Collins of Lawrence, Kansas
“Influenced by industrial design and abstract geometric form, I create unique, wearable art pieces with an underlying sense of delicacy.”
Joseph Cyberski of Dexter, Michigan
“The cutting I do with unusual gemstones utilizes the natural characteristics/textures and focuses on the unique features of the stone.”
Pamela Fox of Sarasota, Florida
Takes impressions of plant seeds, pods or buds for part of her designs. “I use portions of these impressions or alter them, cast them individually, then use them as repeated elements by soldering them to various forged elements.”
Jo Jennings of Irving, Texas
“My joy of creating jewelry is ever ongoing. There is no end to my imagination.”
Julie Jerman-Melka of Calumet, Michigan
Her jewelry studio is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. “The shores of Lake Superior have always been my source of inspiration and I feel fortunate to be back in the area that is so special to me.”
Wiwat Kamolpornwijit of Alexandria, Virginia
“I hand-form every piece of polymer clay jewelry with no use of commercial molds. I use several techniques including caning, engraving, weaving, layering, and many others for which I don’t have names.”
Katherine Kaya of Sarasota, Florida
“All of my pieces have gemstones … vibrant colors as well as natural surface stones.”
Jon Lee of Lewis Center, Ohio
“Enamel cloisonné jewelry uniquely designed and handcrafted with 24-karat yellow gold wire and transparent enamels, fired at 1,500F, and set in 14-karat yellow gold with precious stones.”
Gail and Alex Marksz of Jupiter, Florida
“We work with sterling silver and 14-karat gold sheet and wire in ranges of 10-30 gauge. Our techniques include … fold forming, synclastic forming, raising, repousse, granulation, annealing, forging, fusing, braising and soldering.”
Thomas McGurrin of Sanbornton, New Hampshire
“As a self-taught metalsmith, I enjoy exploring mixed metals, surface treatments and various forming techniques. Recent pieces combine silver and 22k gold, offering subtle contrasts of color, surface and form.”
Joan Michlin and Skip Ennis of Sarasota, Florida
“They express their fascination with light, energy and powerful form by using nature’s finest elements to produce” jewelry.
Paula Sparks of Madison, Wisconsin
“Cloisonné enamel is my favorite medium because it allows me to combine glass and metal. I start by creating a rich texture on fine silver, intricately applying enamel and firing at 1,450 degrees.”
Mary and Spencer Watson of Prospect Heights, Illinois
“Mary uses metalsmithing fabrication processes such as hollow/fold-forming, piercing, soldering, hammering, texturing, polishing and stone setting for each jewelry, small scale sculpture and vessel creation.” Spencer creates images on lake stones using hand cut stencils and a sand blasting process.
Painting artists
George Ceffalio of Glen Ellyn, Illinois
“My oil paintings are Classical Realism with many of them in the chiaroscuro style (the contrast of lights and darks). I have always admired the skill and beauty of the Old Masters and they serve as my inspiration.
Danny Chu of Suwanee, Georgia
“The purpose of my painting is to evoke (the) viewer’s emotion.”
Shawn Cornell of St. Louis
“My paintings are neither cutting edge nor deep in metaphorical meaning, they’re simply stories about brief moments that I experience and witness during my excursions. Hopefully these stories connect with the viewer, sparking a fond memory, a sense of familiarity or a bit of humor.”
David Dallison of Waukegan, Illinois
“I work on location en plein air with transparent watercolor. Journeying around the world with backpack and easel, I explore and celebrate through paint the incredible places I discover.”
Virginia Fergus of Atlanta
“I do no preliminary underdrawing. Instead I look and ponder what I see and make a first shape or primary angle, and then use that as my guide as I proceed with the painting.”
Yoram Gal of Old Jaffa, Israel
“Watercolor, gouache, pen and acrylic on paper and canvas, capturing fleeting moments of dramatic, comic and lyrical interactions between people.”
Scott Hartley of Ann Arbor, Michigan
“In my watercolors, I strive for a painterly yet realistic rendition of my subjects, hoping to make use of the transparent beauty of watercolors as they are applied to the surface of paper using the flow of water. Reserving the white of the paper to represent the lightest values of the subject requires careful planning.”
Chris Hartsfield of Louisville, Kentucky
“I am a contemporary acrylic painter with a focus on landscapes, however included in my body of work are nautical themed paintings and occasional street scenes. I paint on canvas utilizing flat planes of color layered rather loosely to create representational imagery, leaning towards realism.”
Rebecca Korth of Marshfield, Wisconsin
“The subject alone is never my first concern when it comes to choosing what I am going to paint. What is most important is that the composition evokes an emotional response & embodies all aspects of great design.”
Marie Lamothe of Interlochen, Michigan
Her works are all acrylic on canvas. “They focus on the exploration of light as it manifests in the natural world.”
Jon Smith of Clearwater, Florida
“In a museum setting I use elements of reflective light, the human form and classic architectural lines rendered in an Impressionistic style. I pay close attention to values but only hint at the details.”
Michael Steddum of Webb City, Missouri
“I use a strong light source in each work because I feel this makes the still life radiant with energy. It is my goal to have objects reflect and absorb the colors and light around them giving them a vibrancy that draws the viewer in.”
Marian Steen of St. Louis
“My paintings are a powerful expression of sensitivity and technique. I employ the ‘wet on wet’ technique favored by many watercolorists. My work is alive with lush colors, as well as large washes of translucent hues and tones.”
Sculpture artists
Andrew Carson of Seattle
“I combine hot glass and kiln cast glass pieces with fabricated bronze .... While the processes are varied, including hammered copper and flame cut metals, each is utilized only to complete a vision.”
Kent Epler of New Albany, Indiana
“Because of my background in scene and costume design, manipulating fabrics and found objects into sculptures comes second nature to me. They are each a piece of theatre and inspiration can come from anywhere. A name, a piece of fabric, or a discarded brooch can be the basis of a character.”
James LaCasse of Denver
“My work strives, through the medium of bronze, glass and stainless steel, to transform the ‘boundless world of imagination’ into something tactile and expressive.”
Kevin Trobaugh of O’Fallon
Statement not available.
Ceramic artists
Aaron Ashcraft of Salt Lake City
“Stoneware pottery made from a dark brown iron bearing clay is often brushed with white slip clay, creating a complex interaction when fired in the kiln. … Elegant glazes and ash enhance the shape of each piece resulting in forms that are interpretive and subtle.”
Paul Jeselskis of Michigan City, Indiana
“Paul first forms his work on a potter’s wheel and then carves and manipulates the surfaces. The carving is spontaneous and unconscious, similar to abstract expressionist painting.”
Rebecca Lowery of Bloomington, Indiana
“Clay is an amorphous material “that takes the shape of the space that it inhabits. Clay may then take the shape of anything in nature and imagination. It is this ability to become anything that makes clay an exciting material to work with.”
Tim Peters of Winter Haven, Florida
His vessels and plates are carved into porcelain creations.
Gregg Rasmusson of Overland, Missouri
He works within the confines of traditional pottery forms, like a jar or vase, but at the same time pushing the boundaries of design.
Timothy Sullivan of Marietta, Georgia
He has shown in over 200 art fairs since 2001.
Drawing/Printmaking
Robin Lauersdorf of Monona, Wisconsin
“Through close observation, I render my graphite pencil drawings as detailed and realistic as possible. Without the use of color, my drawings must stand on design and value alone. Opposed to pen and ink, pencil allows me to obtain all of the subtle values ranging from very light to very dark.”
Taylor Mazer of Grand Rapids, Michigan
“My works are drawn in ink utilizing a variety of different pens such as: micron drawing pens, a dip pen and india ink, dry brushing with micron ink, and occasionally a marker or graphite on either watercolor or drawing paper.”
Susan Rogers of Millstadt
“I am inspired by the disappearing landscape that is being claimed by urban sprawl. My impressions of these quiet scenes invites one to linger. By using sustainable materials I am able to help preserve these special areas for future generations.”
Marina Terauds of North Branch, Michigan
“I feel our world has become oversaturated with mass machine made production items. Fine works of art are becoming a rarity as people have left behind the tradition of working with one’s hands. It has taken many years to acquire my skills, a process of learning which is ever continuing. I strive to create works of art that can be cherished by their owner and enjoyed by generations to come.”
Anne Wooster & Steven Peaslee of Waldoboro, Maine
“These monotypes are created using oil based etching inks, plants, Rives BFK paper, and a Takach etching press. Ghost images are layered with inked plants to create an illusion of depth. Each print is a ‘one off’, as the plants are destroyed in printing.”
Glass artists
Sharon Fujimoto of Amherst Junction, Wisconsin
“I believe in the simplicity of form and color and the fact that ‘accidents’ are a beautiful thing. The end result is a one-of-a-kind piece that will hopefully endure current trends and will make a connection with the viewer/patron.”
Jeremy and Chelsea Griffith of Murphysboro, Illinois
“This artwork begins as a mass of molten colored glass that is stretched into long, thin rods. Once cooled, the rods are cut into shorter sections, reheated, combined with other colored stringers and stretched again. The results of this process are bars of glass which contain different patterns that can only be seen once chopped into small cross-sections. Thousands of these glass chips are then arranged by hand and melted into a solid glass panel, capturing the movement of the glass while it was molten.”
Thomas Nye of Blaine, Minnesota
“I use traditional Italian and Swedish techniques to make one of a kind objects from molten glass. My primary area of focus is on creating new cane patterns.”
Nolan Prohaska of Somerset, Wisconsin
The landscape is the “main influence of the design on my vessels. Along with the landscape, water elements also appear in the imagery. In addition to the blown work, I create intricately assembled floral sculptures. These sculptures often have personalities even though they are plants.”
Douglas and Renee Sigwarth of River Falls, Wisconsin
“We start with the fiery, molten mass of ideas which quickly begin to take form. It is through careful skill and breath which allows our creation to grow. We pass the piece off to the other and give over trust; as partners we depend on each other.”
Nicholas Stelter of Kaukauna, Wisconsin
“I sculpt glass within the kiln, always pushing and exploring the glass and letting it show me it’s true form. Following that, the glass is cold worked and polished to create the soothing shapes and organic lines that are indicative of my work.”
Mark Sudduth of Cleveland Heights, Ohio
“Hand blown and hand formed. Pieces are then cold worked to cut, polish and engrave. Surfaces are articulated by hand with stone and diamond wheels achieving a variety of new textures which oppose the glass’ naturally glossy surfaces.”
James Wilbat of Deerfield, Illinois
“I combine various techniques in my hot glass work, including blowing, fusing, hand-tooling, optical molding, and sandblasting, to create my uniquely textured, colorful glass designs. I design and blow every piece, including all my cane, colored shards, and beads, from start to finish.”
Paul Willsea of Naples, New York
His works have been shown and represented at galleries and juried exhibitions nationwide, including the store at the Corning Museum of Glass.
Mixed media artists
Sandi Garris of State College, Pennsylvania
“Being an avid traveler and scuba diver, I find inspiration in all forms of nature, from sea life to rain forests. While drawing, I work to capture my emotional memory of a visual experience, rather than a literal rendering of the scene. The result is a unique illustrative image that plays with the boundaries of reality.”
Jennifer Ivory of Corvallis, Oregon
“All of my 3D artwork is composed using individual insect sculptures that I create with illustration ink and acrylic paint on various types of archival paper and film. Each paper insect is based on a real insect from somewhere around the world. I try to get the detail and color as accurate as I can but for fun I often make them much larger or smaller than they might be in real life.”
Dawn LaGrave of Liberty, Missouri
“I create dimensional kaleidoscope wall art from my own original photos of buildings, landmarks and botanicals. After digitally manipulating the photo, I print the kaleidoscope image several times, cut different elements from each copy, and layer the pieces with foam core between the layers to create a 3D effect.”
Ronnie Phillips of Lithonia, Georgia
His artwork displays cultures from America’s rural heartlands to the villages and cities in West Africa and Brazil. He has won over 100 awards and 10 “Best of Show” awards.
Angie Pickman of Kansas City, Kansas
“I was moved to learn the art of paper cutting in 2003 after seeing ‘The Adventures of Prince Achmed’, a cut paper stop-motion silhouette animation from 1926 by Lotte Reiniger. … All my work starts with a sketch. I then hand cut every piece of paper with my knife and meticulously glue it into place.”
Randall Riemer of Mineral Point, Wisconsin
“Attracted to steel because of its strength and permanence, I have learned to transform the material into objects of beauty and longevity … Inspiration from the great architects who have challenged convention is evident. The focus is fresh classicism which rejects the trends and will transcend into timelessness.”
Marc Villanueva of East Point, Georgia
Statement not available.
Nestor Yulfo of Chicago
“My compositions incorporate innovative techniques in graphic design that I use to create work inspired by terrestrial and cosmic landscapes, as well as geometry and symbolism. I hand carve granite paste in low relief; then patina, hand draw, airbrush, and paint with acrylics in intricate layers, to bring these imagined worlds onto canvas or wood.”
Marc Zoschke of Springfield, Illinois
“Our main business has been fine art/sculptural jewelry. As our style and work evolved, we have taken those ideas and have transformed them into wall sculpture.”
Photography artists
Michael Behr of Minneapolis
“My goal as a photographer is for the viewer to feel as I did when I was standing there taking the photograph. To be able to transport them to that place and time.”
Andrew Butler of Santa Cruz, California
“I am a traditional photographer using film and a manual camera and also printing in the darkroom when possible.I do not enhance or alter any of my work,everything is as it was when I captured the image.”
Michael Chen of New York
“My philosophy towards my work can be summarized by Buddha’s wisdom, ‘Your work is to discover your work, and then, with all your heart, to give yourself to it.’”
Karin Connolly of Orlando, Florida
“I am a fine art photographer who likes images that push the boundaries of nature a bit and create a warm dreamlike emotion for the viewer. Some of my images are shot as infrared photos, then hand colored and merged together with multiple images to create a peaceful and serene kind of landscape.”
Cali Hobgood of Urbana, Illinois
“Photographs printed and developed from the artist’s negatives on black and white photographic paper in a traditional silver-process darkroom then painted, using oils.”
William Lemke of Waukesha, Wisconsin
“My interest in landscapes began with the many trips I took with my family growing up in the 1960s; typically trips out West. Through these trips, I developed a great appreciation for the beauty offered in unique plants, water and rock formations.”
Matthew Platz of Chippewa Lake, Ohio
“Most people are missing it…all of the incredible little “understated” miracles going on all around them. My hopes are that my simple images of rural farm life will help them realize this and in turn, get them to slow down and take the time to appreciate Earth and God.”
Daniel Powers of Dayton, Ohio
“The great cities and countrysides are bathed in rain, fog, mist and twilight. Solitary figures walk through empty streets absorbed in thoughts not meant for us. The intimacy of these photographs takes familiar scenes and transforms them into an emotional landscape.”
Katie and Chris Robleski of Milwaukee
“With a love of both road trips and Americana, we found a way to create art in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night, for people who simply want something different to hang on their walls. We travel all over the country to find these unique places.”
John Scanlan of Glenwood, Iowa
“For over 40 years, I have been chasing the light around the world. My goal is to put the viewer in a very special place at a very special moment in time using natural ambient light. I print my work on photographic papers, and dye sublimation on aluminum.”
Kristin Schillaci of Santa Fe, New Mexico
“The photographs in ‘Just Passing Thru’ are deceptive. Initially you are welcomed in by vibrant color and familiar imagery. Looking closer reveals a melancholy solitude. I am drawn to these images because of their mystery. I am fascinated by the untold stories of these forgotten places.”
Radim Schreiber of Fairfield, Iowa
“I specialize in photographing fireflies, I do not digitally manipulate my photographs. I print my photographs directly onto aluminum, or I mount archival prints onto aluminum-resin core substrate.”
Jon Walton of Middleton, Wisconsin
“The focus of my present work is the result of combining a passion for the fascinating intricacy of nature with my long experience with large format photography. My artistic goal is to create stunning floral and natural landscapes that give a new perspective on the familiar, making the commonplace unusual.”
Scott Williams of Dallas
“Slice of life global location photography, with an emphasis towards drama, beauty and uniqueness. I use the camera to explore the world and to capture a moment in time that has some significance for me. My images are the result of anywhere from 3 hours to 3 days of waiting for the right circumstances.”
Wood artists
Jeff Easley of Parnell, Iowa
“Combining high standards of craftsmanship with refined designs and the beauty of wood, I continue to provide art furniture and abstract wall sculptures to an appreciative audience.”
John Mascoll of Safety Harbor, Florida
“My works explore the seemingly infinite variety of shapes and forms that allow the natural beauty of the wood to be reflected aesthetically in the vessels I create.”
Mark Waninger of Jamestown, Indiana
“Woodturning allows me to express my own distinct style in each piece, often using boards or blanks salvaged from downed trees. Through hand-carvings, applied textures and vibrant colors, each piece is meticulously detailed and finished inside and out, top to bottom.”
Mike Koziatek is a reporter with the Belleville News-Democrat, a news partner of St. Louis Public Radio.
