A few of my favorite....St. Louis Art Fair artists! (Besty Yongquist, Micheal Cole, etc)

PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO VISIT THIS SITE FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF ALL ARTISTS, ENTERTAINMENT ON ALL STAGES AND THE VENDORS IN THE FOOD COURT!:

http://anchorinternet.com/culturalfestivals/ArtFair_2011.pdf
__________________________________________________

Good musicians should despise having to label their "favorite song'.  Likewise, a good chef will avoid naming a favorite recipe, a favorite food or a favorite ingredient.  I find the practice of naming a favorite song - or a favorite artist distasteful and quite impossible, actually.  As a musician, I like thousands of songs, and each for what they offer individually. One is not on a pedestal higher than the other.  They all have attributes and they shine when placed in the appropriate spotlight.  In my mind's eye, artists live in a parallel universe to musicians.

Each person that takes the time and energy to **MASTER** his or her own art and craft deserves the highest level of recognition.   Their passion, attention to detail and workmanship should never be ignored, bypassed or taken for granted.  These fine people are using their resources to the best of their ability (Are you using yours in the same manner?)

With that being said, there are a few artists at this year's St. Louis Art Fair that I keep tucked away in special little places in my heart in a safe, yet always accessible place.

______________________________________
BESTY YOUNGQUIST:

Her home page:
http://byart.com/

Betsy's mediums include cast-away doll parts, including heads, limbs and eyes, and seed beads, among a host of other materials.  The creatures she creates are both captivating and mythical:

______________________________________________________________________

Micheal Paul Cole

Even though artists that enter this show are from all over the USA and all over the world (the process of entry is more than grueling!), this artist has his studio in my hometown of Hannibal, MO.  The similarities doesn't stop there. His studio is in the same building as the Pentecostal (!!) church that I was raised in from my birth until I was 11 yrs. old.  It was in this building that I heard my first Hammond organ / Leslie speaker. BLAME THEM FOR MY ADDITION!  :)
The church has moved to a new building on Terrell Ave. in Hannibal, and this building has since been a Day Care, and now a fabulous studio for a few artists.
Mr. Cole's work is as much about the frames as it is the images. Both are fine works of art:

Micheal Paul Cole's website (with a pic of the church / studio!):

http://michealpaulcole.com/Welcome.html
_________________________________________________________

THOMAS WARGIN

Part man?  Part machine?  You decide:


Many more photos available on his website:
http://wargin.com/index_gallery.php
___________________________________________

THE FOOD!

Alexander’s in the Sheraton

(Clayton Plaza)

Style: American

The Menu:
From Lobster bisque to spinach

artichoke dip, Alexander’s modern

dishes are sure to leave Saint Louis

Art Fair guests fulfilled with an

“mmmm” experience.

Bella Catering

Style: American

The Menu:
Make this year’s Saint Louis Art Fair

memorable with favorites like the Kick

Ass Fries, portabella sandwich and

cheeseburger sliders.

Café Manhattan

Style: American

The Menu:
Enjoy Saint Louis Art Fair

performances with Café Manhattan’s

hand-breaded dishes and delectably

seasoned waffle fries.

Drunken Fish

Style:Japanese

The Menu:
Drunken Fish defines the paramount

dining experience through an

extensive Japanese menu that goes

beyond the ordinary.

Hank’s Cheesecakes

Style: Bakery/Desserts

The Menu:
With savory cakes, cookies, and brownies

as well as a ravishing array of flavors of

cheesecake, Hank’s Cheesecakes offers

desserts that will tempt the angels.

McCormick & Schmick’s

Style: Seafood Restaurant

The Menu:
Seafood

With its unwavering commitment to

the freshest seafood, McCormick &

Schmick’s comes to the Saint Louis Art

Fair this year with dishes sure to please.

The Pasta House Catering Co.

Style: Italian

The Menu:
Enjoy classic Italian cuisine with The Pasta

House’s delicious offerings this year.

Rearn Thai

Style: Thai

The Menu:
Excellence is the standard when it

comes to Rearn Thai dishes. Visit

its booth for delicious pad thai and

chicken satay dishes.

Russell’s Café and Bakery

Style: Café/Bakery

The Menu:
Russell’s brings pride and quality to the

Saint Louis Art Fair with its handcrafted

pastries, cakes, pies, and sandwiches.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Style: Steak House

The Menu:
A St. Louis treasure, Ruth’s Chris serves

its steak sliders and seared ahi-tuna.

Tivanov Catering

Style: Variety

The Menu:
Tempt your taste buds with smoked

salmon and goat cheese quesadillas,

teriyaki pork loin skewers, chocolate

covered bananas, and bread pudding
.

Uptown Café

Style: American

The Menu:
Featuring authentic Manhattan-style

beer-battered fries and marinated beef

kabobs, Uptown’s dishes bring the taste of

New York directly to the heart of Clayton.

For food near the Creative Castle, please visit:

Pam’s Chicago-style Dogs & More

Style: American

The Menu:
Satisfy children and adult tastes alike

with Pam’s refreshments and Windy

City-style beef hot dogs.

MAGGIE MOO’S

Style: Ice Cream

The Menu:
Treat the entire family to soothing, cooling

Maggie Moo’s ice cream as you explore