Brookside Art Annual 2008

Am I the only one in Kansas City who is not interested in over manipulated jewelery and glass? Where is the restraint? Must you hang a watercolor of flowers or children in your home to prove you are down with the Midwest? Seriously! I don’t want to dodge strollers all day while sporting my handcrafted grandma scarf and wearing my kooky earrings from last year’s show. I want to see something special and innovative and I would like to find more then 2 booths that match that esthetic.
Bring us more modern and contemporary art. I know it is Missouri, but we can handle it. Do I have to fly to California to buy all my art? Not that I mind, but come on!

This is the art fair that determines the timing of our trip to Kansas City. We’ve missed a couple when our travel schedule has prevented us being here, so once we came in September and went to the Plaza Art Fair, as well as the Un-​Plaza Art Fair held each year at the Unitarian Church. Last year we came in June to catch the Prairie Village fair. This is the fair we prefer, though, and Lois and I have a long history of cruising its stalls. This is its 23^rd year and we’ve been to the majority of them. Our house and my jewelry box are full of purchases over the years. It’s a juried show and draws artists from all over the country. Almost w/​o exception the work is of high quality. There is art glass, wood, ceramics, woven goods and painted silk items to wear. There is jewelry and furniture and photography and watercolors, acrylics and prints. Some things are quirky and funny, some are stunningly beautiful, some don’t capture our attention and a very few made me wonder why they were included at all. Because I bought the Arlie Regier sculpture yesterday today I kept my purse closed. There were several memorable and interesting works that might have tempted me otherwise, but my heart was closed today and so was my wallet.