Diane Wollenslegel, owner with husband Ned, of Waterfront Framing, in St. Joseph, unveiled "Us by Numbers," by Doug Arnholter, at the presentation of Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff posters at the art center. Photo by Terri Gordon

By TERRI GORDON

Off the Water

The Krasl Art Center in downtown St. Joseph unveiled its Art Fair on the Bluff publicity and fine art posters Thursday, April 28 at the Krasl.

The event is the traditional kick off of the Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff season, but Krasl is going a bit overboard this year in celebration of the fair’s 50th anniversary — hence, not one, not two, but three posters.

Perry Ballard Inc. designed the publicity poster that will grace the walls and windows of local shops. It was unveiled by local business owner and art fair sponsor, Larry Schuler.

A commemorative fine art poster featuring two hands — one holding up five fingers, the other forming a zero — was designed by the 2010 senior class of the Gwen Frostic School of Art at Western Michigan University.

Mural of the World founder Doug Arnholter, from Indianapolis, designed the second fine art poster, “Us by Numbers.” The design will also serve as an interactive installation at the art fair. Members of the community will fill in numbers on a mural. “They can sign their names on the border,” says art fair director Sara Shambarger. “Then it will  become part of Krasl’s permanent collection.”

Also in honor of the art fair’s anniversary will be the art center’s exhibition “50 Years of Art on the Bluff.” People are asked to submit works they’ve purchased at Krasl’s Art Fair over the years. They will be on display from June 10 to July 31.

Broadcast live on 98.3 the Coast, highlights of the evening included appetizers from Grand Mere Inn, wine from Tabor Hill, cake from Bit of Swiss and music from pianist Marcelo Caceres.

The 50th Annual Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff will take place Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10. Fair hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, contact the Krasl Art Center at (269) 983-0271 or visit www.krasl.org.