Art in the Park brings together novices and veteran exhibitors
Rotary Club-sponsored Willistead event hits its 40th Anniversary
Julia Conlon has had a booth at Art in the Park for 40 years.
The Windsor artist applied to display her paintings at the Willistead Park showing for the first time when she was just 17. “They had me on file as a portrait artist, but I was a little kid when I applied,” said Conlon. The members of Friends of Willistead who reviewed that first application in 1978 told Conlon they already had a portrait artist. They kept her name on file anyway, so when the original portrait artist backed out, Conlon got the call to participate.
She thought she might have similar trouble when she applied again the following year, but that application was accepted right away. She’s had a spot at the event ever since.
Art in the Park is put on annually by the Rotary Club of Windsor. This year marks the club’s 100th anniversary and the 40th year it has organized the annual art show and sale.
Conlon said her customers at Art in the Park are very loyal. “We see the same people every year,” said Conlon. “Even if their walls are full, they’re buying for other people.”
She paints watercolour vignettes and egg tempera. Her husband, Martin, frames her work.
The couple used to tour their work, bringing it to various art shows around Ontario. At one point, they were attending as many as 28 shows in a season. Now, Art in the Park is the only show they do. OutsideofArtinthePark,Conlon sells her work and teaches young artists out of Artist Julia Conlon Art Studio, Gallery & School on Kildare Road in Walkerville. Her students sold some of their work from the booth next door.
Nathenia Meng, one of those students, said a lot of student art was selling. “If you want to pursue art, this is a good experience for you.” Rob Thomas and his wife Sue run one of this year’s new booths called A Twist of Metal. They sell specialized outdoor art and sculptures made of metal Rob designs and welds.
“It’s a big show. I didn’t realize how big it was going to be,” said Thomas. He and his wife live and run their business in Owen Sound. “We mostly do shows. It’s kind of our retirement gig. We just do about five or six shows a year,” said Thomas.
The couple had sold 25 pieces, some almost two metres tall, by 2 p.m. on Saturday.
“We’re quite happy,” Thomas said.
Thomas said they usually don’t sell a lot right away because the sculptures are so big. He said people often come back to purchase just before they leave the park so they don’t have to carry heavy metalwork around. Margaret Ann Prince has been a member of Windsor Rotary for over 20 years. This year she manned a Rotary booth. Prince said she has always been involved in Art in the Park. “Every year it’s the fellowship of the community getting together,” said Prince. “You see little tots and older people. It’s just a wonderful thing they look forward to. The weather couldn’t be better.” Windsor Rotary boasts the rainor-shine event as one Ontario’s largest outdoor arts and crafts shows. Exhibitors from all over Ontario and Quebec sell and display their work.
The Art Gallery of Windsor started the event in 1970. Back then, Willistead Manor was the gallery ’s home. The gallery handed over the reins to Windsor Rotary in 1978. Over 40 years, the show has raised more than $1.3 million for the restoration of Willistead Manor and its grounds, and an estimated $2.1 million for local community organizations including Maryvale and the John McGivney Children’s Centre.