The 3rd annual Eureka Springs Fall Art Fair this past weekend was a success on many levels. Due to great attendance, good sales, combined with the enjoyment of a fun social event, artists were well pleased with the final results. An exhibit of such scale takes weeks, even months, of prep work by both the artists and the producer Steve Schmidt and his able team.

The cold weather seemed to draw folks indoors and the chill in the air enhanced the holiday buying atmosphere. Many locals showed up to support the town's artists and were joined by visitors from as far away as California and Hawaii. When local art is purchased by out of state tourists it extends the reputation of Eureka Springs as an art colony.

John Rankine received the Best in Show award for his haunting photographs. Other local award winners were potter Mark Rademacher, 1st in three dimensional, and woodworker Doug Stowe took third in 3-D. Watercolorist Zeek Taylor won 1st in two-dimensional, and Carol Saari placed third in 2-D.

Winners received beautiful plexiglass awards personally selected by the show producer's wife, Tracey Schmidt. The judge was Lynn Berkowitz, education director of the Crystal Bridges Art Museum and well respected nationally for her art expertise. A judge with her credentials lent great validity to the quality of work selected for the juried show.

The many facets of the two-day event helped kick off the holiday season in Eureka and left many art lovers and artists basking in the afterglow. If you missed this event please make plans to visit other shows by producer Steve Schmidt of the Eureka Springs Artist Registry. It's not too early to mark your calendar to attend the next scheduled Schmidt production, the 2nd annual Pinnacle Hills Art Show in Rogers, AR, next September the 5th, 6th, & 7th, 2008. Artists wishing to show at Pinnacle hills can find contact info to receive an application at www.eurekaspringsartists.com

Whether you are just viewing at a show or fair, or taking a piece of work home with you, Art will enhance your life. Share the afterglow.

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