Crowds of art lovers were already there. The Loring Park Art Festival gives art enthusiast an opportunity to purchase some of the most intriguing art in the country. Creative artist from across the nation come to promote their best work.

Near the heart of downtown Minneapolis and adjacent to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Loring Park is a major attraction for many annual and seasonal events.

The weather here was excellent for a pleasurable hour and a half stroll around the park, especially if you wanted to see all the art exhibitions. I and my wife took time out of our busy schedules and attended this mentally inspiring event.

No one must tell an avid art lover that art is inspirational. He or she knows. Sunday boredom cannot survive in the atmosphere of great art festivals.

We arrived about noon day. People were strolling around, observing the variety of art displays, and engaging in admirable conversations with the artists.

Opening entering the event, I headed over to a bucket that red programs, but as I got closer and peeked into the container, I saw nothing there. I reckoned, giving that the festival was a three-day event, that program manuals had been taken. The early birds got the worms.

Our first intriguing observations were exhibitions of elite photographers, images which included great gardens, exotic bridges, and old mansions in far-away places. We could tell that theses outstanding photographers, Darren Olson and Michael Lamers, had traveled to some of the exotic places of the world.

The Loring Park Art Festival featured some of the interest-grabbing art in the nation. All types of creative art were on display, including

Ceramics

• Susan Koehler
• Caitlin Dowling
• Genevieve Loso

 

Paintings

• Megan Murrell
• Joyce Staley
• Greta Sandquist

Photographcy

• Darren Olson
• Michael Lamers
• Kelly Tate

 

 

Sculpture

• Steve Nugent
• Paul Olson
• Ray Zovar

Glass art

• Marilyn Cox
• Jeff Sorensen
• Laurel Grey

Wood Art

• William Boyle
• Gary Quinn
• Bill Lepak

 

 

Metal Art

• Cyrus Ravio
• James Cook
• Stephen Fairchild

Mixed Media Art 2D

• Bradley Fritz
• Linda Clayton
• Jesse Kunerth

Printing making

• Stanley Leonard
• Emily Gray Koeler
• Kendra Gabbia

Jewelry

• Melinda Wolf
• Susan Field
• Sky Kahmann

Fiber (non-wearable)

• Holly Keller
• Neng Yang
• Bill & Linda Sumner

Fiber (wearable)

• Zoe & Kaja Foat
• Ann Holter
• Lisa Green

Drawing

• Sue Rowe
• Haylee McFarland
• Ernest Gillman

 

 

The Walk

Structurally, the Loring Park Art Festival and its nearly one hundred exhibitions made a huge circle the park and its beautiful lake.  Walking consisted of stopping, observing, and engaging the artist and purchasing art. My wife admired a piece of print art representing some of the most powerful women who ever lived, both past and present.

The images included woman who had changed the world with their messages and performances, including Michelle, Obama, Simone Biles, even Jude Lee, the first Hmong gymnast to win a Gold Medal in the Olympic gymnastic competition.

The People

People come to Loring Park Art Festival, not only to purchase art, but to observe and appreciate it and to be around the artist all day. So, people were making use of every inch of the park. Some sit on the grass underneath shade trees, others had blankets spread across the ground, still others sit on benches surrounding the flower garden.

I and my wife liked waking through the people as much as stopping and observing the exciting art exhibitions. As an avid of observer of pattens, I noticed that for every 100 feet we walked, there appeared a dog owner and his or her dog. Many were small, shaggy, or fancy haired, tail wagging playful dogs.

The people consisted of all types of races. Art lovers are art lovers. And they are friendly. At the Loring Art Festival, you will encounter Caucasian, Asians, African Americans, Hispanics, Indians, Africans, and several others. Who says art, like music, cannot be a universal interest that bring people from all walks of life together as one big happy art loving family?

The Delicious Distraction

Food vendors encircled the Loring Park Art Festival. Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Barbecue, Egg Rolls, and much many others, some food vendors from other ethnic groups, including India. In the middle of the walk, stood an ice-cold lemonade stand that intrigued many thirsty art lovers who stood in line for the welcoming beverage.

I and my wife had talked about a going on a diet prior to coming to the park. We had been eating to much sweet things.

But so much for our diets. In the middle of our art discoveries, we happen to walk upon an ice cream vendor who made their produce homemade.  We couldn’t resist. I purchased a cup of good old, home mad vanilla while my wife tried a first-time raspberry like flavor on a cone. It was delicious, so tempting that other people mouths may have been watering just staring at it.

By the time we had finished our delicious temptation, we had made it around the entire Loring Park Art Festival. We had a wonderful time. The art was highly intriguing, the artists were extremely friendly and approachable, the weather was great, the people were fun to be with, the prices of the art were reasonable. We could have stayed there all day if our personable responsibilities were not calling us to completion.

The Loring Park Art Festival is well worth a visit. If you are an avid art lover and desire to purchase some of the best art in the nation, then the next Minneapolis summer should be something to look forward to.

Downtown parking was free for us. But even if its not, the prices are reasonable and there are plenty of parking locations near the event.

The bottom line is that You will leave the event inspired and uplifted in spirit.