Art, history merge at Eagan Art Festival

Posted under Eagan, Thisweekend on Thursday 17 June 2010 at 6:22 pm

Ninety-five artists will display and sell their work at this year’s Eagan Art Festival, which will be held outdoors on the festival grounds of the Eagan Community Center. File photo

Festival June 26-27 adds history-themed activities as nod to Eagan’s 150th birthday

by Andrew Miller
Thisweek Newspapers

This year’s Eagan Art Festival is getting in on the city of Eagan’s 150th anniversary celebration with a host of history-themed entertainment and art activities.

A Civil War-era music/acting duo, art demos celebrating American heritage such as spinning and weaving, and a crafts project for children centered on Grant Wood’s iconic painting “American Gothic” are among the history features at this year’s festival, which runs June 26-27 on the grounds of the Eagan Community Center.

Now in its 16th year, the free event includes a juried fine-art show with displays by 95 artists, a community art project, food concessions, live music and hands-on art activities throughout the weekend.

“There’s something for everyone, and it’s a great place to meet family and friends for a fun day out,” said festival manager Wanda Borman.

Artists will showcase a variety of work including jewelry, pottery, photography and even garden ornaments, and all the art is for sale. An award ceremony at which the Best in Show winner will be announced is set for 11:20 a.m. Sunday, June 27.

The Children’s Activity Tent and the Art Experience Tent will offer workshops and art demos for festival-goers young and old. In the children’s tent, kids will make finger puppets and build landscape-type dioramas based on “American Gothic.”

Each year, the festival sponsors a community art project. This year’s will have guests painting rain barrels, which will be placed in Eagan city parks following the festival.

The Empty Bowls project will have artists making soup bowls in the Art Experience Tent into which festival guests can place charitable donations, and the Eagan Resource Center will be collecting food donations for the food shelf throughout the festival.

Entertainment
A full weekend of live entertainment is lined up for the Eagan Art Festival. On Saturday, June 26, the music kicks off with the family-oriented Teddy Bear Band at 10 a.m., Paula Lammers (jazz) at 11:15 a.m., the Eel Pout Stringers (folk) at 1:45 p.m., and a Civil War-themed dramatic and musical performance from 3:45 to 5 p.m. featuring Dave Geister, Pat Bauer and Don and Sherry Ladig.

The Century Brass Band opens the entertainment lineup at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 27, followed by Clint Hoover and Papa John Kolstad (blues) at 12:45 p.m. and acoustic guitar duo Lehto & Wright at 3 p.m.

In brief

The 16th annual Eagan Art Festival runs June 26-27 on the festival ground of the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway. A full schedule is at www.eaganartfestival.org.

Andrew Miller is at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com.

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