Hey, local artists. Question — I’m at the Berwyn Shops this year (the colorful sheds on Roosevelt), and we’ve been brainstorming ways to draw people down there, since we don’t get a lot of random foot traffic. (I’m making this sound really appealing, right?)
If I organized a summer arts fair at the Shops, would people be interested? We have a wide boardwalk down the center, and a wide sidewalk on one side where people could set up tables. There isn’t really room for tents, I think, but there are sun shades down the center boardwalk.
It’d be more low-key than a full-on street fair (though we have a coffee shop and two bakers on site, so there’s food, and we’d try to get a food truck and some live music), but there’d be no charge for participation.
I think we have room for about ten tables? We’d do a minimal jury process if there’s interest — you’d send in some photos, we’d try to put together a solid group of varied artists.
Let me know if you’re potentially interested, and if you have a preference as to dates! Also if you’d prefer one day or two (we lock up the gates at the end of the day, so if you’re comfortable throwing a sheet over your table and leaving it, you’d be welcome to, rather than break down and set up again).
Given my schedule, potential weekends this could happen:
• July 12 / 13
• July 19 / 20
• Aug 16 / 17 (preferred for me, but can be flexible)
• Aug 23 / 24
And if you haven’t been to the Shops, and are interested in learning more about them, Fridays and Sunday are generally quieter, and most of the vendors will be very happy to talk to you about what it’s like there. 6931 Roosevelt Road (at Clinton). We’re open Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-6, and Sunday 10-5, May-December.
