CALL TO ARTISTS – HISTORIC SHAW ART FAIR SEEKING EXHIBITORS

St. Louis, Missouri … Organizers of the 13th Annual Historic Shaw Art Fair are seeking applications from artists worldwide who want to show and sell their work at the juried art exhibition and popular outdoor event that will be held in St. Louis the weekend of October 1-2, 2005.

Painters, sculptors, printmakers and artists in other media may apply through the website http://www.ShawArtFair.com or by calling 314.773.3935 for information and applications. This year’s deadline for postmarked applications is June 3.

The Historic Shaw Art Fair is ranked among the top 25 art fairs in the nation by art industry publications and artists who attend different fairs. In 2004, more than 120 artists from across the United States exhibited and more than 10,000 people attended, many of whom purchased original works of art. Cash prizes totaling more than $6,000 were given to artists whose work was selected by a panel of judges.

The event is hosted along two blocks of Flora Place, a lovely, tree-lined boulevard between the world-famous Missouri Botanical Garden and Grand Boulevard. Food, entertainment, music and children’s activities also are featured.

The event is organized by the not-for-profit Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association (SNIA), which produces the art fair with help from more than 200 local volunteers.

Mary Samuelson, SNIA president, said, “We expect the 2005 Historic Shaw Art Fair to attract a bigger audience than last year due to new additions and changes that we believe will make the fair an even greater event than in the past. Attendance has increased significantly since the fair’s inception in 1993, as more people are aware of the event’s artistic significance and family-friendly entertainment appeal.”

“The Historic Shaw Art Fair rates highly among artists for its hospitality, beautiful setting, hard-working volunteers and good sales,” said Greg Gobberdiel, one of the organizers. “Last year, artists at the Historic Shaw Art Fair exhibited work in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, printmaking, glass, wood and mixed media.”

The not-for-profit SNIA has served Shaw neighborhood residents since 1958. Each year, SNIA donates a portion of revenues generated by the Historic Shaw Art Fair to schools and non-profit organizations that serve the neighborhood.

More than 7,500 people in 3,700 households live in the Shaw neighborhood, which is bounded by Grand Boulevard on the east, Tower Grove Park on the south, the Missouri Botanical Garden on the west and I-44 on the north. SNIA also promotes historic renovation, new construction and business development from offices at 2211 South 39th Street.

For information about the Historic Shaw Art Fair or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, call 314.773.3935 or visit the website www.shawartfair.com.
Media contact: Jeff Dunlap @ PowerlinePR @ 314.721.5505.

* * *