Begalka: Skip town for art fair weekend

Looking for the perfect day trip?

Consider Art Fair on the Square July 11-12 in Madison, Wis. Nearly 500 artists will exhibit paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture, jewelry, handmade clothing and accessories, ceramics, fiber, glass, metal and wood. This year’s event – the 51st annual summer art fair organized by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art – runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday on Capitol Square ... as well as the adjacent Wisconsin artists’ Art Fair Off the Square.

Artists from 34 states were selected for this year’s fair by a jury of art professionals who evaluated more than 1,450 applicants. Plenty of food, music and ambiance accompanies this show. For information, visit www.mmoca.org/events/artfair.

The 18th Annual Chicago Tribune Magnificent Mile Art Festival provides a good excuse to visit Chicago’s lakefront. The show runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 10; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 11 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 12, at 435 N. Michigan Ave. Three hundred artists will have an estimated $15 million in artwork available for sale. Prices range from $25 hand-designed earrings to $20,000 metal sculptures. Thank goodness admission is free.

For information on the 18th Annual Chicago Tribune Magnificent Mile Art Festival and other Howard Alan Events art and craft shows across the country, visit www.artfestival.com.

• Kurt Begalka can be reached at 815-526-4432 or kbegalka@nwherald.com.