This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Arts & Entertainment

Art Festival Brightens Up Barrington

Barrington resident among artists showing off their work.

The sun wasn’t shining as the Barrington Art Festival got under way Saturday, but it was nonetheless a bright morning in downtown Barrington.

Barrington resident Carla Bank and some 140 other artists like her illuminated Cook, Station and Lake streets with their impressive and often colorful work in varying mediums, among them watercolors, photography, glass and metal. It’s the second consecutive year Amdur Productions brought the free event to the streets of Barrington on Memorial Day Weekend.

Bank, a native of Mexico who moved to Barrington from Florida in February when her husband’s job was transferred north, greeted festival attendees with a smile as they passed by and often dropped in to view her artwork. Her colorful pieces, intended for children, portray related themes such as candy, people, hearts and even rubber ducks. “I finished the rubber duckie at 3 in the morning last night,” Bank said.

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I’ve been painting for a long time,” she added, “since I had my kids (who are now 12, 10, and 7). And I used to own a kids boutique in Florida.”

Bank developed a passion for painting when visiting a studio in Mexico and viewing the work of Frida Kahlo. “That’s when I became fascinated – when I was a little girl,” she said.

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The festival was welcoming to those of all ages, offering a live music stage featuring Chicago-area group Cirrus Falcon, and food/beverage tents serving typical festival food such as gyros, corn on the cob and fresh lemonade.

Children – such as Amelia, a second-grader at North Barrington Elementary School – took their turns painting on an interactive mural for kids.

The festival also offered various demonstrations throughout Saturday and Sunday for such mediums as painting, 3D, ceramics, jewelry and wood. Gerardo Valerio Trigueros, a creator of ecological art, showed off his skills early Saturday. The Cary resident says he’s “fighting for the preservation of ecology and environments using my brushes as my weapons.”

The festival came to an abrupt end Sunday when heavy storms rolled into town just before noon.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?