“You get to know the worth of a neighborhood by saying ‘howdy’ to the people who sit on their front porches on a summer’s evening. It’s all told in the ‘howdy’ you get back.”

– adapted from a frequent comment from my grandfather, Harry S. Wood, who spent many a summer evening sitting on his front porch.

This past weekend I was in the 57th Street Art Fair in Hyde Park.

President Obama was in Chicago for part of the weekend – his family home is only a few blocks from the art fair area. The University of Chicago is a few blocks the other way and it was alumni weekend. Plus, it was one of those gorgeous Chicago weekends in early summer blessed by the weather gods – sunny, a few clouds to make the sky interesting, mid 70s, no humidity, a sweet breeze off Lake Michigan.

Combine POTUS and his accompanying entourage, the requisite dozens of motorcycle cop and siren duos, a huge U of C alumni party for multiple class years, the oldest juried art fair in Chicago, and perfect weather. You have a recipe for one hectic, but fun-filled weekend.

The show was grand. Big crowds from the neighborhood, the university, the city. Smiling people, excited kids.

The 57th Street Art Fair seems to attract those who love their art. When I took a break to stretch my legs, and look at the other art, I visited booth after booth where artists and customers were in deep discussions about art, techniques, the state of the art world, the state of the art fair world. Truly amazing!

When the show ended each evening, I walked the neighborhood, still bubbling with excitement from the day’s show. There were so many conversations I wanted to hold on to, and remember. They were the stuff that makes being an artist on the art fair circuit a meaningful experience – the conversations, the real discussions about real art with so many age groups – from tweens on up, and sure, the sales were fun, too.

That is the beauty of art fairs, why I do them – the interactions and conversations between the artist and the client are true memory makers.

Thanks, 57th Street…

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and the owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC.  Bo so enjoyed her trip to the 57th Street Art Fair. The art and artists, the neighborhood and architecture, the friendly atmosphere and friendly people! What a great weekend.