Art (and a Picnic) in the Park

Posted by Porcshe N. Moran

The Art: 
This past weekend, my fiancé and I attended the Columbia Art League's  55th annual Art in the Park festival.  Artists in various mediums such as fiber, glass, jewelry,  photography, mixed media, sculpture, wood, and painting, drawing, prints and digital, gathered in Stephen's Lake Park in Columbia, Mo. for two days to display and sell their work.  

The 55th annual Art and the Park festival was held at beautiful Stephen's Lake Park.

One hundred and ten artists from across the country exhibited at Art in the Park this year. Here are some of the pieces that caught my eye:

"Paparazzi People" by Joseph and Bridget Farmer.

"Paparazzi People" by Joseph and Bridget Farmer

Large metal flower sculpture by Joseph & Bridget Farmer.

"Jazz Bugs" by Joseph and Bridget Farmer

I fell in love with the metal sculptures created by Joseph and Bridget Farmer of Saint Charles, Mo. They take old scraps and other pieces that most people consider trash and turn them into these amazing and fun pieces of art. I wanted to take their whole collection home!

Handmade clay sculptures by Patty and Veronica Castillo of Texas.

Veronica Castillo of San Antonio, TX and Patty Castillo of New Baunfels, TX brought their traditional Mexican artwork to mid-Missouri. Their sculptures, which honor their ancestors, are handmade from clay and acrylic paint.  The inspiration for their colorful pieces come from things like the tree of life, angels, and Day of the Dead celebrations. 

"The Elusive Kerfunkin" by Ellie Heiligenstein

Ellie Heiligenstein of Heiligenstein Character Works in Belleville, IL. makes 3D mixed media art from various materials such as cookie cutters, buttons, spoons, cracker tins and jewerly. Her whimsical characters reminded me of items that might be found in a toy box from the early 1900's. These would make for great keepsake items.

Pens with handcrafted, matching glass holders by Laurie Wilhite of Santa Claus, Ind.

The writer in me was instantly attracted to these funky ballpoint pens with matching holders from Evergreen Mountain, LLC. The pens are made from acrylics that are hand casted by the artist, Laurie Wilhite. She also make pens from shells, stones, bones, antlers and other exotic materials. In addition to writing tools, she creates other home and office gadgets like corkscrews, bottle stoppers, fragrance atomizers and shaving sets. 

A bear topiary at Art in the Park.

Animal topiaries created by Wilson's Garden Center were set up all over the park. I'm always amazed by the level of skill it takes to prune plants into these detailed, decorative shapes. 

The Picnic:

There were several food vendors set up at Art in the Park, but I opted to prepare a picnic lunch for our outing. I consulted my favorite cookbook, Southern Living 2007 Annual Recipes, to get ideas for the menu. The cookbook is divided up by month, and the June section of recipes has an entire page devoted to "Pack-and-Go Picnic" eats. 

This is my all-time favorite cookbook, and my source of recipes for the picnic.

Turkey, Bacon, and Muenster Sandwich

Our main course was turkey, bacon, and Muenster cheese sandwiches. My variations to the original recipe were using Muenster cheese instead of Havarti cheese and using turkey bacon instead of pork bacon. I couldn't find a round sourdough bread loaf at the grocery store, so I substituted with sliced sourdough. This layered sandwich also includes roasted red bell peppers, and balsamic vinaigrette. 
Recipe: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/turkey-bacon-havarti-sandwich-10000001041988/

Sour Cream Coleslaw

Coleslaw is a summer staple, and this recipe is quick and easy to make. This was my first time tasting coleslaw with sour cream instead of vinegar or mayonnaise. I enjoyed the lighter and milder flavor. 
Recipe: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/sour-cream-coleslaw-10000001624527/

Fresh Fruit

I picked up a container of mixed fruit (strawberries, blueberries, pineapple & kiwi) for another side item. 

Sweet Onion Petals

This was my first time trying sweet onion petals, and I liked them. They were in the produce section of the grocery store, and  tasted like a less processed version of FUNYUNS. They are kosher, gluten-free and made from real Vidalia sweet onion puree. 

A  picnic meal  is a great summer date idea. Depending on the mood you want to create, pair your picnic with an event like Art in the Park, or plan it for a quiet day when the outdoor location of your choice is more serene and intimate. 

What are some of your favorite summer festivals and picnic foods? Share your comments below!