By Shelby Clark Petkus
The 12th Annual Orchard Lake Fine Art Show, presented by HotWorks, comes to metro Detroit July 26-27. The weekend event has grown into one of the top 100 art shows in the country under the direction of HotWorks' executive director Patty Narozny (HotWorks is a production company that works on other events locally and nationally). The Orchard Lake Fine Art Show has also won six awards from 2012 Michigan Festivals and Events Fun Awards.
The renowned art show is juried by art professionals and features high quality fine art, craft events, local and international artists and more. Said artists sell their paintings, clay, glass, sculpture, wood, fiber, jewelry, photography and other materials. All art is original and handmade by the artists at the show, with artists present to answer questions about his or her work.
The art festival will take place in the heart of West Bloomfield. The city, which has been voted one of Money Magazine's "Best Places to Live," has free parking for patrons of the festival, and many local businesses will be open to attendees.
Aside from art sales and viewing, the show will also showcase live music, fresh flowers on every table and a variety of great food offerings, beverages such as beer and wine, and a comfortable tented seating area. Children's art activities will feature plaster painting, tie-dye T-shirts, candle making and face paintings. Also for children is the Seventh Annual Youth Art Competition, which offers kids in grades K-8 the chance to enter their artwork in the event, which will be publicly displayed. Winners of the event receive a cash prize. Art demonstrations throughout the event will allow patrons the ability to see creative works in progress.
Orchard Lake Fine Art Show goals include getting artists together with the right audience "so that everyone has a pleasant and educational experience." Another goal is to enhance all festival-goers "aesthetic senses."
The non-profit Institute for the Arts & Education, Inc. (IA&E), part of the show, works for the education and promotion of fine arts and crafts among all groups of people. According to hotworks.org, IA&E also "implements ways to enrich lives and strengthen our community through the Power of Arts via ways in which we can help teach communities how artwork is made, and to further the involvement of the community with our events. This Association works to encourage creative expression and Artistic excellence, and to expand public awareness, appreciation and acquisition of fine arts and fine crafts."
Located at 6900 Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 26 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 27. Admission is $5, with free admittance to those 12 and under. Pets are welcome. There is parking behind Barnes & Noble and the Beaumont Medical Center.
For more information, visit http://www.hotworks.org/orchardlakefineartshow.
