Art Fair on the Square

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Maurice Thaler

Art Fair on the Square

(2017 CRITICS' PICK) Art Fair on the Square showcases nearly 500 artists at Madison's central meeting place, and the event raises funds to support free access to art at Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. As if that isn't enough, the event also features three stages of music and dance, craft projects for kids and lots of good food. Find all the details at mmoca.org.

press release: The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art will host its 61^st annual Art Fair on the Square on Saturday, July 13, from 9 am-6 pm, and Sunday, July 14, from 10 am–5 pm, around the picturesque Capitol Square. The art fair will feature nearly 500 artists in 489 booths, featuring for sale everything from grand sculptures to delicate contemporary jewelry, inspired ceramics, and vibrant works for the wall.

For the last six decades, Wisconsin residents and people throughout the Midwest have flocked to Art Fair on the Square, the MMoCA’s biggest fundraising event. Through the Art Fair on the Square MMoCA has helped thousands of professional artists sell and promote their work. The funds raised through the fair help keep the museum admission free, as well as support art programs at MMoCA and around the county.

Art Fair on the Square continues to be one of the largest art fairs in the Midwest. The fair will showcase the work of artists displaying original fine art and craft, handmade clothing, original photography, jewelry, and much more. Nearly 200,000 patrons are expected to visit the booths, as well as the additional attractions of music, entertainment, international cuisine, and locally-sourced fare, set against the lovely backdrop of the State Capitol.

Volunteers an essential part of Art Fair on the Square, filling over 700 shifts over the course of the weekend. They help make the fair successful and MMoCA as well as the artists value their support. Volunteers are still needed, with over 200 shifts yet to be filled. Details are at https://mmoca.ivolunteer.com.

Participation in Art Fair on the Square is highly competitive, with approximately one-in-four applicants accepted through a jury process. Selected artists hail from 42 different US states and Canada. Over 20 percent of participating artists will be exhibiting at the fair for the first time ever.

In addition to selecting participating artists for the 2019 fair, jurors will review the artists on-site during the fair to select Best of Show winners in each of the thirteen categories. The award winning artists will be invited back to exhibit at the 2020 fair.

Featured Artist: MMoCA named Michelle McDowell Smith the 2019 Art Fair on the Square Featured Artist. McDowell Smith is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she studied illustration. Her current body of work, Of Land and Sky, Whimsical and Free is inspired by her love of storytelling and nature. She works on canvas with acrylic paint, working in glazes to seamlessly collage in vintage ephemera such as old maps, postcards, and book illustrations.

The 2019 featured artwork, which will grace the cover of the Art Fair on the Square program and the collectible t-shirts produced by Wildwood Productions, is titled The Trove. The work is a celebration of bees and the vital role they play as pollinators and as guardians of ecological balance and biodiversity in nature. A limited edition giclée reproduction of The Trove will be on display and available for bidding in the Art Fair’s silent auction tent located on Wisconsin Avenue at the Capitol Square during the fair.

Art Fair Extras: Art Fair on the Square truly offers something for everyone, with an emerging artist block; three performance stages; foods ranging from empanadas, fresh salads, and poke bowls, to Wisconsin brats and beer, fresh squeezed juices and smoothies, as well as vegetarian and gluten-free specialties; and a weekend-long schedule of entertainment and an art projects area for kids. Shoppers can also bid on works from hundreds of participating artists at the Silent Auction Tent, or stop by the Artist & Craftsman Supply tent on State Street to get inspired with art making supplies.

Emerging Artists, Local Businesses and Demonstrations: The 100 block of State Street will be dedicated to emerging artists who have been selected to exhibit in the fair by a jury process. The Emerge Block gives skilled, yet developing artists the much-needed experience of selling and promoting their work at a major art fair, and will offer fair-goers a look at up-and-coming artists. Additionally, the entire family is invited to visit the Artist & Craftsman Supply booth on the Emerge Block to hear about art-making techniques and have a chance to buy art supplies. Discover Life Chiropractic will offer health tips, while small batch croissant maker Sweet Jacquelina and The Ideal Bakery will present treats to enjoy onsite or take home.

Silent Auction Tent: Art Fair on the Square shoppers can bid on a limited edition framed giclée of the 2019 featured artwork The Trove, and dozens of other works at the Silent Auction tent. Located at the Wisconsin Avenue intersection of the Capitol Square and a long-standing project of MMoCA Volunteers, the tent features donated works from many of the exhibiting artists and all proceeds directly support MMoCA. A visit to the Silent Auction tent also lets shoppers sample the variety of works available at the fair and determine their personal list of must-see booths.

The Kids Area: Located at the King Street corner of the walkway leading to the Capitol Building, MMoCA invites families to drop by the Kids’ Area to enjoy free art and craft projects for children of all ages. This year, activities will include collage landscapes, beading, screen-printing, coloring, jewelry making, and more. The Kids Area will be active on Saturday, July 13, 9:15 am–6 pm and Sunday, July 14, 10:15 am–5 pm.

 A Weekend of Music and Performances: Fans of music and dance will find another reason to enjoy this year's Art Fair on the Square. Nearly thirty different groups and individuals will perform at this year's fair, including out-of-town acts and local favorites. Fair-goers can rest and watch performances while enjoying a meal at the food court on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, in the seating area at the top of State Street, and on the Capitol Steps at North Hamilton Street.

Saturday, July 13

Wisconsin Public Radio Stage, State Street and the Capitol Square: 9:00–10:00 Noah Hittner; 10:30–11:30  Mad City Funk, 12:00–1:00 Mad City Jug Band, 1:30–2:30  The North Code, 3:00–4:00 Ambulatones, 4:30–5:30 Bosky Point

Magic 98 Stage, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard: 9:30–11:00 Skylah’s Lyrik, 11:30–1:30 The Alpha Romeos Blues Band,2:00–3:00 Hypheria, 3:30–4:30  Rare Element, 5:00–6:00 Billy Joe and the Affordables

Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. Performing Arts Stage, Capitol Steps at North Hamilton Street: 10:00–11:30 Midwest Performing Arts, 12:00–1:00 Kehl School of Dance, 1:30–3:00 Madison Contemporary Dance, 4:30–5:30 Breakthrough Dance Company

Sunday, July 14

Wisconsin Public Radio Stage: 10:00–11:00 All That Jazz, 11:30–12:30 Bone Holler, 1:00–2:00 Greg Herriges, 2:30–3:30 Down from the Hills, 4:00–5:00 Tent Show Troubadours

Magic 98 Stage: 10:00–11:00  Julien Kozak, 11:30–12:30  Josh Cohen, 1:00–2:00  The Bitter Nothings, 2:30–3:30  Kelsey Miles, 4:00–5:00 Star 67

Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. Performing Arts Stage: 10:00–12:30 Trinity Irish Dancers, 1:00–2:00 Kanopy Dance and Friends, 2:30–3:30 Madison Professional Dance Center

 To date, generous support for the 2019 Art Fair on the Square has been provided by Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.®, Wildwood Productions, All Energy Solar, Artful Home, Dane County Regional Airport, Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison, LeafFilter, Mad City Windows, Pepsi Cola of Madison, Sprinkman + Dines Downtown, Waunakee Remodeling, Wisconsin Lottery, American Transmission Company, Destination Madison, DoubleTree by Hilton Madison; The QTI Group, Madison Magazine, Isthmus Publishing Company, Magic 98, Wisconsin Public Radio, and WKOW TV.