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Library hosts second annual Art in the Park

Calhoun royalty try their hands at the pottery wheel at Art in the Park in Brussels on Saturday afternoon. (Diane Brangenberg/Calhoun News-Herald)

Calhoun Apple Jacks 4-H, the Calhoun Royalty and The Brussels Girl Scouts opened the Art in the Park festivities with the Pledge of Allegiance. (Diane Brangenberg/Calhoun News-Herald)

Miss Calhoun Lucy Kallal admires the artwork of local artist John Webster during Brussels Art in the Park on Saturday. (Diane Brangenberg/Calhoun News-Herald)

Quilters display their handiwork during Art in the Park in Brussels. (Diane Brangenberg/Calhoun News-Herald)

Authors were set up, selling their books during Art in the Park in Brussels on Saturday. (Diane Brangenberg/Calhoun News-Herald)

By Carissa Sitki

The second annual Art in the Park in Brussels took place on Saturday, June 3, at Heritage Park and was well-attended. The event is sponsored by South County Public Library to foster a “renewed appreciation of art in its many forms,” according to organizers.
The event began at 11:40 a.m. with a gathering at the flagpole with a short introduction by event organizer Joan Kiel and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Calhoun Royalty, Brussels Girl Scouts, and Appleseeds 4-H.
There were activities taking place throughout the day including book readings by Melissa Morrissey reading “Einstein the Science Dog;” Steve Strubel reading “Bat Tales;” and Ted Morrissey reading “Planes” from “Crowsong for the Stricken.”
Also during the event, kids had the opportunity to try their hand on a pottery wheel, paint pictures, color stained glass designs, make fairy gardens, and solve riddles to complete a scavenger hunt in the park.
Vendors were set up throughout the park, Town Hall, and the Schleeper Pavilion to sell their arts, crafts, and other homemade or homegrown items from noon until 4 p.m.
Vendors attending included, crafter, Brenda Gress; crafter, Kathy Friedel; flint knapper, Madison Rew; Elizabeth Elik and Emily Klaas of ESquared Stained Glass; Debbie Eberlin Tepen with sewn crafts; Amanda Love with natural kitchen and bathroom products; painter Paige Pohlman; Ellie Friedel with sewn crafts; oil painter Cindy Jenkins; diamond artist, Barb Hanneken; painter, Stephannie Hultz; Ashley Snyders and LeAnn Kiel of A-Door-able signs; Liz Sievers and Helen Sievers of Tepen Hollow Design; Allison Lohman with her barn quilts; jewelry designer, Anjalee Fanning; Macoupin County Art Collective; artist sisters, Melissa and Bree; pen and ink artist, John Webster; jewelry designer, Tori Engle; St. Barbara Quilters; St. Joseph Quilters; St. Mary Quilters; St. Matthew Church Quilters; artist and author Steve Strubel; Deseray Hardwick with Designs by Deseray; Calhoun Appleseeds 4-H and Cloverbud; Sandi Odelehr with Odelehr’s Roadside Market; Lori Mortland of Sparkt Studio in Grafton; and Keith Baecht of Baecht’s Bees.
Authors present were Ted Morrissey, Melissa Underwood Morrissey, Kendra Breden, and the family of Larry Underwood.
The event’s food vendors included Odelehr’s with ice cream and desserts; Lea Miller and Michell Bell with pulled pork, popcorn, snowcones, and strawberry shortcake; and St. Mary School Parent Club with hot dogs, chips, water, Capri Suns, and sodas.
South County Public Library extended their gratitude to all those who attended the event, stating in a post on Facebook that they hoped everyone had a good time.
“We hope everyone enjoyed themselves and left with a book, a full belly, and a unique item or two as well as with a deeper appreciation of the talented people that surround us; there truly are so many,” read the post.
The organizers went on to thank each vendor for “sharing your time and talent with those of us not quite as talented as you— you are truly appreciated and your love of creating is evident.”
They also thanked those who helped with the event including Calhoun Appleseeds 4-H and Cloverbud, Brussels Girl Scouts, Calhoun Royalty, Josh Fuhler for lending his golf cart, and those who took pictures.
The library finished their thank you post with an invitation for next year.
“Again, thank you for attending and everyone please keep us in mind for next year,” concluded the post. “Spread the word— the more, the merrier.”
For more information about the library or how to become a vendor at next year’s Art in the Park, contact the library at 618-883-2522 or visit the South County Public Library Facebook page.

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