Clayton Hums During Saturday's Art Fair

At 8 a.m. Saturday in downtown Clayton, the streets were mostly without people. Battalions of crisp white tents lined the streets in neat rows. Occasionally, a golf cart whizzed by. But very soon, more than 150 artists arrived to staff their tents of art and welcome many of the 150,000 people expected to attend the Saint Louis Art Fair this year.

In addition to art, Saturday's offerings included three stages of constant entertainment, educational areas for kids, demonstrations and food. Restaurants offered gyros, jambalaya, kabobs, sliders, hamburgers, spicy beef sandwiches, pad thai, fried ravioli, cheesecake and more.

One of the highlights of this year's fair is a sidewalk chalk art contest. Four professionals are creating masterpieces as students from 10 high schools—taught by the professionals—work on their own.

Students from Hazelwood got to work early Saturday on their chalk art.

“It's a great opportunity for the kids to show off,” said Patty Craig, a Hazelwood parent.

“And to work with the professionals too—I'm excited,” said Renee Jennings, whose daughter, Alicea, is one of the Hazelwood artists.

Jackie Kovach, a professional who's been doing sidewalk art for 13 years, tutored the kids on chalk painting technique.

“The high school kids are doing great,” Kovach said. “I think they already knew a lot. It's been a great festival.”

The art fair also enables visitors to see the work of artists from across the country. A plethora of styles and mediums are represented, and because artists are on-site, visitors can learn about them and their art by visiting and asking questions.

On Saturday, people crowded around a booth, laughing and smiling. Inside was the art of Allan I. Teger. It is called Bodyscapes. Teger hires live models and puts little toys on their bodies to create scenes. He then photographs the scene he has created on film.

“It's like a party in my booth all weekend," Teger said. “I used to be a psychology professor. I was looking at two realities existing at the same time. That's what led me to this.”

The artists can be surprising, too. Chia Haruta was born and raised in Japan, where she studied printmaking. When she moved to Hanover, MI, it opened a new world for her and her art.

“The United States has pushed me into a new way of printmaking,” Haruta said. “Japan has a tradition, but here I can experiment. Here I am like a geisha. It's the celebration of being myself without being pushed into a certain way. You are giving your best for what you are. If you're a carpenter, be the best carpenter you can be. If you're a road worker, be the best road worker you can be. Here, I can breathe.”

The Saint Louis Art Fair continues Sunday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

ALSO ON PATCH