Daytrippin': Fine arts will next weekend at Missouri Mosaics Festival for the Arts

The Missouri Mosaics Festival for the Arts may be the only place where a child can pick out an original piece of art for $5.

In what Joyce Rosen, executive director for the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, Mo., said is usually a historic part of town usually known for its crafts, the festival, now in its 15th year, will bring the finer arts to St. Charles.

"We have 100 artists coming in from around the country who do painting, sculpture, mosaic glass," Rosen said.

The festival, planned for Sept. 18-20, will feature a myriad of artists, live performances and family activities.

A children's area will be set up for families to make art and for children to pick out art to take home with a $5 donation.

"On the Foundry Center's parking lot, we have the children's area," Rosen said. "Artists will donate artwork, and then for $5, the kids can go in and pick out their own piece of artwork."

Rosen said children will pick out the piece of art without their parents, and this is important because it allows children to pick which piece of art appeals most to them "without any influence."

Those displaying their art, in addition to having the opportunity to sell their work, will also have the chance to win prize money.

"We'll give $10,000 in awards — five, $1,000 awards and 10, $500 awards," Rosen said.

The weekend will be filled with music from live acts such as TNT and The Hard Drives on Saturday and Elsie Parker and The Poor People of Paris on Sunday, plus others.
Rosen said there will also be food for sale earlier each day, particularly for families who plan to spend a while at the festival.

"We do have one area, more at the beginning, that will have hamburgers, hot dogs and stuff like that," Rosen said.

Rosen said the festival is beneficial for both visitors and the artists.

"For one thing, (visitors) can actually speak to the artist and get an understanding of how they create, why they create, understand the concepts," she said.

The Missouri Mosaics Festival for the Arts is free and open to the public. For more information on the festival, visit www.foundryartcentre.org or call the Foundry Art Centre at 636-255-0270.

Contact this reporter at jennifer.hollis@lakemediaonline.com

If you go
WHAT The Missouri Mosaics Festival for the Arts
WHERE Historic downtown St. Charles, Mo.
WHEN Sept. 18-20
COST Free
INFO Foundry Arts Centre, 636-255-0270
ONLINE www.foundryartcentre.org