Bold colored oil paintings lined the inner walls of a small tent, where Brad Slee could watch as visitors admired, and in some cases purchased, his artwork.
It was the University of Toledo student’s second year showcasing his works at the annual Art on the Mall at the university’s Main Campus Centennial Mall. As a junior in college studying business marketing, he said the festival allows him to network with fellow artists as well as increases his clientele.
Mr. Slee, of Perrysburg, said he began drawing at four years old and has honed his craft since he was 12.
“I make these pieces as a hobby and it’s just fun to come out and show what I made,” he said. “I get a lot of compliments, a lot of sales, and it’s just fun to be here and connect with people over something like music.”
For the past 27 years, Art on The Mall has attracted attendees for various reasons, whether it’s to purchase art, food or enjoy live music.
Sunday’s festival included food and drink from local vendors, music by Minor Frett and Andromeda and the Serpent, a beer garden for the adults, and a children’s hands-on activity center. The free event was held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and included free parking and golf carts that shuttled guests back and forth.
In 1992, the University of Toledo Alumni Association created Art on the Mall to encourage alumni to return to campus. Since its conception, the festival has grown from a dozen artists the first year, to dozens who participate annually.
Vice President of the Alumni Association David Dmytryka, 60, said 110 artists and vendors participated this year.
“The artists are judged by a jury that comes in from Fort Wayne Art Museum and they will make their decisions and we’ll have awards presentations later this afternoon,” he said.
Mr. Dmytryka, Sylvania Township, said the Alumni Association was expecting “about 11,000 to 12,000 visitors”.
For Dan and Katie Shantz, the festival is a beloved spot for their family business Moonlight Studios — specializing in screen bugs and garden art — to set up shop.
Mr. Shantz, of Kalamazoo, Mich. who was filling in for his wife and business owner Trish Shantz, said the one-day art festival has treated the family business well.
“We have a loyal following already in just five years, which is really nice, like they’ll make comments like, ‘Ok we’ve found the bugs (referring to a small trinket sold by the company) it’s time to go home,’” Mr. Shantz said.
Katie Shantz, 18, Kalamazoo, Mich. said the friendliness of the attendees sets the festival apart from others.
“It’s kind of interesting to see because there are things that sell at this show that do not sell at other shows so we bring different stock. A lot of the customers that shop here have been buying from us for multiple years, so it’s really cool to see them come back,” Ms. Shantz said.
Among the many stations was the children’s art center, which was highly populated by young aspiring artist and parents.
Chairman of Young Artist Area, Crystal Anderson, 41, Toledo said the station was filled with varying crafts for children to enjoy as well as a bubble station where children could blow massive bubbles.
“We put together a bunch of art-related activities for children to touch on their sensory and creativity. We have nine stations, it’s pretty neat. We have a bubble station out this year. We have this burst where in the morning it’s cooler [and] it gets really busy and then we have a lull and in the afternoon we have another burst,” Ms. Anderson said.
Local mother Nikko Dick,44, said she has attended the event for three years with her 7-year-old daughter, Johanna.
“Mainly I came for these crafts because I know that she enjoys them, Ms. Dick said. “I look around a little bit but I pretty much brought her out to do all of the crafts that they supply. She really has a good time — she gets her face painted and she gets to make bracelets and dragonflies and bookmarks. It’s very good for the kids.”.
Mr. Dmytryka said the one-day art festival brings residents of all walks of life into one centralized location.
“Toledo is a tight community, the University of Toledo and the Alumni Association is able to bring people from all walks of life together in one place for something like this is absolutely a benefit to the entire city, to the entire area and to the region,” he said. It’s probably the largest event of its kind in the Toledo area and once a year we come out here and everybody enjoys everybody.”
First Published July 28, 2019, 9:46 p.m.
