Celebrations are in store for the Chardon Square Arts Festival, even if a year late.
Celebrations are in store for the Chardon Square Arts Festival, even if a year late.
In what was supposed to be the 40th anniversary last year, COVID-19 postponed celebrations to Aug. 8 of this year on Chardon Square from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Since the festival’s origination 41 years ago, some familiar faces have been along for the ride every single August. This year’s featured artist – Jim Anderson of Farmhouse Stoneware – is the only crafter to have participated in all 40 festivals.
Anderson started selling pottery in 1976 shortly after he married his wife, Betsy.
Having studied pottery in his final year at Mount Union, Anderson and his wife eventually opened their own pottery shop in 1993.
Originally called Cottage Pottery, they launched the retail part of their business, Farmhouse Stoneware, in 2006.
With his shop located in Munson Township, the Chardon Square Arts Festival is Anderson’s favorite local festival to partake in, he said.
“I not only enjoy doing the show, I love the people that run it,” Anderson said in a recent interview.
Serving as a fundraiser for the Chardon Square Association, the money collected from the festival goes towards putting on other events in the community throughout the year.
As one of the festival’s original artists, Anderson has watched it grow, both in size and community.
What was once a festival of 25 artists held on the front lawn in front of the Geauga County Courthouse is now a fully-fledged show of 114 artists spread across Chardon Square.
The jury committee that decides what art is invited to the show makes sure about a quarter of artists at the festival are newcomers, Anderson said.
Not only does it balance out the kind of art that is at the show, but it keeps the festival fresh.
“It has always been the highest quality crafters of all the shows I do,” he said.
Anderson said community members know they will be walking away with great work, and it keeps them coming out.
“Year after year, people know they can get quality stuff at the show,” he said.
Anderson said he enjoys the constant flow of people that visit his booth and the team effort it takes everyone from the artists to the CSA members – and even spouses that chip in a few extra hands.
“I love being with the people – that’s been an important part for me,” Anderson said, adding CSA’s treatment of the artists is what makes the festival unique.
“The Chardon Arts Festival has been a model for others,” he said.
After a pandemic-filled year of cancellations that forced Anderson to shift his business model from focusing on local shows to putting more time into private orders, he is excited to finally be back.
“It’s a special show run by special people,” he said.
Taking a Look Back
A founding member of the Chardon Square Association, Jan Gipson has helped organized the Chardon Square Arts Festival since its beginning.
Gipson is a chairperson for the event and her role includes lining up artists each year, bringing in new talent and “making the artists happy,” she said.
“We do a lot to accommodate the artists,” Gipson said. “If we don’t have artists, we don’t have a show.”
Gipson is the person behind the scenes that makes sure everything goes smoothly for participants, whether it is giving out free coffee and donuts the morning of the show or providing “boothsitters” when vendors need a break.
“Taking care of the artists – that’s what I enjoy,” Gipson said.
Before retiring, Gipson owned Frame Finders and operated on Chardon Square for 29 years.
She was one of eight people who got together and formed the CSA to preserve uptown in its beautiful and welcoming state and keep customers around, Gipson said.
The group knew they needed money to keep their dream alive and the idea of an arts festival fundraiser was born, she said.
“We got the community behind us and that’s what’s kept us going,” Gipson said.
The festival is their biggest fundraiser and backs numerous projects throughout the year, from beautification work uptown to the Christmas lighting of the square.
“A lot of it is because of the arts festival,” Gipson said.
Despite a disappointing cancellation last August, Gipson said there is a lot of fun things planned for the festival’s 40th anniversary this year.
“We are so excited,” she said. “And I think the artists are thrilled to be back.”
