Note: Artfully Yours is a new monthly column submitted by the Medina County Art League (MCAL). Articles will discuss events sponsored by the MCAL, individual artists, workshops, and other topics related to the visual arts. We hope you find this helpful, and maybe that you will be inspired to join this organization! (You don’t have to be an artist. You may just be a
supporter of the arts!)
If it’s July, it’s once again time for Art in the Park! The Medina County Art League is proud to present our annual celebration of the visual arts. This year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever! About 120 artists will display and sell their artwork on the courthouse square on Sunday, July 16, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Rain or shine! Artists include painters, potters, photographers, jewelry makers, leather and fabric artists, and those who work with glass or wood.
Chairperson Kathy Stokes-Shafer offered these thoughts on this celebration of the arts: “For the past 49 years, the Medina County Art League has sponsored Art in the Park on the square in Medina. I think at first it was a way for our members to sell their work and bring art to Medina. Over the years it became a major fine art show with vendors from all over the country. It is also the major fund-raiser for the MCAL for operating expenses each year. For example, it helps us pay honoraria to the artists who speak at our member meetings and a portion of the costs to sponsor workshops for our members to continue to learn.”
This art fair has a second important purpose for the MCAL. The organization awards scholarships to budding young artists in the Medina County schools. According to Stokes-Shafer, “Each year, we routinely award from $3000 to $5000. In just the past eight years, we have given $20,000 to 32 students. Visitors are encouraged to stop by our scholarship tent to learn more about our scholarship program and purchase a raffle ticket to help us support these young people.”
There is one major addition to this year’s Art in the Park that will help the MCAL reach its goals. The Board gave area businesses and organizations an opportunity to sponsor the awards presented to the artists for their body of work. The MCAL thanks the following sponsors:
Best of Show ($1000) – George Brown and Associates
First Place ($800) – The MCAL President’s Award
Second Place ($600) – The “Every Second Counts” award sponsored by the Law Firm of Brown, Amodio, and Chandler
Third Place ($400) – Medina Gem
Honorable Mention ($200) – Trillium Creek Dermatology
Special Awards ($100) – Salon Morche, Charles R. Pfister Orthodontics,
Velvet’s West Main Framing, One Lucky Dog Bakery, Waite and Sons Funeral Home
Stokes-Shafer also indicated that there will be music throughout the day. Rocking Rick is returning to entertain with both music and magic tricks. Food vendors will be available, and, of course, there are plenty of great restaurants in Medina if visitors are ready to sit down for a bit.
MCAL president Linda Long encourages everyone to join the fun. “I came to Medina just four years ago, and I wouldn’t miss Art in the Park for anything! This is a wonderful venue to purchase a beautiful piece of artwork for your home. And I just read that July is ‘Christmas in July’ in Medina. Think about a holiday gift now. Perhaps you have been looking for a unique gift for a wedding, anniversary, birthday, or housewarming. What a great way to support artists and your community. We will see you on the square!”
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