Art & Air, Webster’s Art Fair 2015
Artist Awards are Actual Works of Art 2015
Since Art & Air’s beginning twelve years ago, Yucandu has created and donated the artist awards for Webster’s annual art fair. Pam Belloli, friend and Art & Air’s first Artist Chair, came to us with the idea of giving something atypical for artist awards. We loved the challenge and got into it right away. We considered it an honor and still enjoy designing them and handing them out to the winners. Each year, the awards themselves have been an assortment of unique works of art.
For the first few years, the awards were inspired by the standard blue ribbons, but made from handmade papers and assorted yarns. But soon, we took it to the next level. In 2009, we used canvases and added colorful handmade tassels. The following year, we collaged paper maché peace signs. In 2011, the awards were vintage staircase spindles. We involved our After-School Art Club where kids painted the spindles whatever colors and patterns they wanted. In 2012, we re-purposed lids from black vintage metal film-boxes, which were anonymously dropped off a few years before. We saved them for a long time, knowing the perfect opportunity to “upcycle” them would come along.
In 2013, we incorporated Art & Air’s 10 year anniversary logo into the design. We found plenty of options in our mix of supplies—wooden blocks, scrabble tiles, vintage yardsticks and metal wings just to name a few. We truly hope the artists enjoy their awards as much as we enjoy making them.
This year, each artist award is an original framed mono-print, adorned with a glass jewel showcasing the new name, Webster Arts Fair, and logo. The mono-prints, created by Yucandu staff member, Katie Calfee, are incorporated into the overall award. This is our favorite award yet! And one of the best parts is that fair goers can make their own framed mono-print in our hands-on tent this year! They truly are fun to make and have amazing results. Everyone can go home with their own work of art for only $12–one they create themselves.
Webster Arts Fair is located on the grounds of Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, Friday thru Sunday on the first full weekend in June. For more fair information go to http://www.webster-arts.org/.
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