Glen Lake Woman’s Club holds Glen Arbor Art Fair

From staff reports

The 54th annual Glen Lake Woman’s Club Art Fair will be held on Wednesday, July 15, from 10 am until 4 pm at the Glen Arbor Township Hall. The Art Fair features artists carefully selected to represent a wide variety of one-of-a-kind art pieces for sale including pottery, painting, textiles, woodworking, and jewelry.

Each year, thousands of people shop for that unique piece of art, either for themselves or for a special gift. Some go to their favorite artists’ booths to add to a collection, while others like to peruse vendors new to the Art Fair for a special purchase. The Art Fair is a family-friendly event with a large selection of treasures available across a wide range of price points. Whether you’re looking for a beautiful homemade purse or jacket; an original painting of a favorite, local scene; a stunning piece of new jewelry; or a unique pottery garlic keeper; you are sure to find it at one of the well-displayed booths, both inside and outside the Township Hall.

Co-chairs Ruthy Bolton and Meg DeJager begin coordinating the Art Fair Committees in January to make sure all runs smoothly for vendors and shoppers on Art Fair Day. You can find them scurrying throughout the Fair, along with other Glen Lake Woman’s Club members in their bright yellow t-shirts throughout the day. They will also be hosting an information table right inside the Township Hall doors and can direct you to a specific booth.

“Even with all our hard work these seven months, we couldn’t pull off a successful Art Fair without the support of local businesses who donate advertisements and food, the media for getting the word out, and the Empire Lion’s Club members for assisting with parking,” said Bolton. “The scholarship recipients and Glen Lake High School Football players have a history of volunteering at the Art Fair with enthusiasm, energy, and willingness to assist where needed most. You will find them distributing coffee and donuts to vendors early in the morning, serving in the kitchen, setting up and taking down tables, and assisting customers at the popular jewelry or bake sale tables.”

“The vendors really set the tone for the quality of the art at the Fair and Bay Area Transportation Authority greatly improves the vendor loading/unloading and parking,” DeJager added.

“BATA is pleased to partner with the Glen Lake Woman’s Club Art Fair to provide vendor transportation to and from the event location. Helping support Leelanau County groups, organizations and events with transportation is a just one-way BATA can provide added value to the communities we serve,” stated Eric Lingaur, communications and development director for the Bay Area Transportation Authority.

All proceeds from the Art Fair support scholarships for Glen Lake Community School students. According to Ginna Woessner, chair of the Club Scholarship Committee, “Since 1980, the Woman’s Club has awarded over $368,000 to 271 students to assist them on their path of higher learning. Our students have gone primarily to Northwestern Michigan College and have studied diverse careers like maritime engineering, culinary, graphic design, welding, police academy, and general studies to name a few. Some students go into the workforce after earning certificates or an associate’s degree while others further their education and have become dentists, doctors, and teachers. Whatever their passion, we are so pleased to play a part in their journey. Your support of the annual Art Fair supports our student scholarship program.”

The Glen Lake Woman’s Club, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 1937 with the goal of fostering social, civic, and educational projects. The charter members adopted as their slogan, “If you wish to live in a better place, better the place in which you live.” For more information about the Glen Lake Woman’s Club, the Art Fair, or our scholarship program, visit the Glen Lake Woman’s Club Art Fair Facebook page or their website, GlenLakeWomansClub.org.