Publications & Sites 
Arts take over Northbrook park
"Blue Jay" by Bonnie Lecat
Art in the Park
Village Green Park, 1320 Shermer Road, Northbrook
10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 14 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 15
www.northbrookarts.org
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Updated: July 11, 2012 10:44AM
“It’s fun. It’s all art and music, and it’s all right there in one park,” says Julia Miller.
That would be “Art in the Park,” sponsored by the Northbrook Arts Commission, that’s set for Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15, at the Village Green Park, at the corner of Shermer and Meadow.
Miller is chair of the commission, and explains that while the art show is the heart of the annual event, festivities include music, children’s activities and a sampling of local food.
“There are artists from all over the place,” she says. More than 70 exhibitors will offer paintings, prints, fiber art, sculpture, photography, jewelry and more. “This year there are one or two from Northbrook.”
Except for rest breaks, live music will play throughout the festival.
Miller says a highlight is always the performance by members of the Northbrook Community Choir, this year at 10 a.m. Saturday. Strolling among the booths full of colorful artworks on a fine summer day, “hearing all those beautiful voices singing,” she says, “is very impressive.”
The music lineup is as varied as the artwork. Saturday’s list includes a mixed bag of musical genres from Laughlin and Friends, featuring Christopher Laughlin, proprietor of Northbrook’s Laughlin School of Music at 11 a.m., rock with a twang from the Western Philosophers at 1:30 p.m., and an eclectic round of fun music from The Bank at 3:30 p.m.
Sunday features variety music by Air Mail Special at 10 a.m., Latin sounds from Guitarra Azul at noon, and contemporary music from from John McHugh & Company, with Northbrook’s resident luthier, John McHugh at 2:15 p.m.
Though the recent heat wave seems to have broken, Miller and her fellow organizers are ready for high temperatures. “We’re going to have a misting tent,” she says. And an ever-popular artist who creates displays of yard art with water sprinklers will be back at the festival. “He’ll have a lot of sprinklers going.”
Miller believes fairgoers will also be pleased with the convenient layout. It’s set up, she explains, so that you can walk straight through the art and come out right at the food concessions, where there will be light, fun foods from local establishments to sample.
“It’s really a great way to spend a whole day,” says Miller.
