Arts and culture editor Catherine Capellaro used to avoid the crowds on and off the Square until a few years ago when her sons, Leo and Julian, fell in love with ceramics. The budding artists started selling at the Art Fair Off the Square through the High School Clay Coalition. They found inspiration from visiting other booths, and gained a huge amount of confidence by selling their pottery and talking to people who were interested in their art. Chatting with artists who sell at the art fair helped Catherine understand the importance of the event to Madison and to the artists who sell here, and helped inspire this week’s cover story.

Our fair city

The Art Fair on the Square, now in its 60th year, is a thriving arts economy, benefiting a local art museum, boosting careers of working artists and infusing cash into local businesses.

Remembering the first

The first Art Fair on the Square was held in 1959. There was no food, no entertainment, no tents. Just art.

The art of smithing

Luke Proctor, last year’s Best in Show winner at the Art Fair on the Square for metal works, makes a stunning line of furniture from smithed metals. He wants us to rethink our stereotyped ideas of blacksmiths.

Animal magnetism

A former zookeeper, Adam Pankratz creates joyful, emotive portraits inspired by the animal kingdom. With each sale, he donates a portion of proceeds to a conservation charity related to the animal in the painting.