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Festival selects poster art

Arts on the Square slated for Aug. 19-20

By Angie Landsverk


This acrylic painting by Patricia Vaux is the winner of the 2016 Arts on the Square Poster Contest. CLICK TO ENLARGE
This acrylic painting by Patricia Vaux is the winner of the 2016 Arts on the Square Poster Contest. CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Patricia Vaux’s first time entering the Arts on the Square Poster Contest turned out to be the charm for her.

Her acrylic painting is the winner of the 2016 contest and is being used to promote the event.

“I’m so honored to be the recipient of this and so pleased,” she said.

The arts festival is set for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 19 and 20, on the city square.

Sponsored by the nonprofit Waupaca Community Arts Board, the event includes music, art, workshops and food.

Vaux is a member of the board and said a few years ago, she considered creating an image for the contest.

With this year being the 10th annual year for AOTS and with encouragement from family and friends, she decided to do so.

“I’ve always been painting, my entire life. I’ve been active in various arts groups over the decades,” Vaux said.

She always did watercolor paintings.

Last year, she decided to take classes in acrylics.

“I’m so attracted to the brightest colors,” Vaux said.

Her love of bold colors is why she decided to take the classes, and she worked on the piece for the Arts on the Square Poster Contest on and off.

“The essence of the painting is the glow of the tent,” Vaux said.

That idea came to her immediately and in the midst of winter.

She wanted to capture the morning sun glowing through the tent which is always set up on Fulton Street for the event.

“And then there are the people gathered. Warm energy. Happiness,” Vaux said. “They’re eating and laughing and drinking and enjoying each other.”

Her painting also captures the vegetables and flowers at the farm market.

Vaux said some of the images are the results of either photographs she took or that other members of the arts board.

Her image also includes a collage of artists and events as they unfold throughout the day.

“The people are interacting with the artists,” she said. “Some are painting. Some are demonstrating.”

Wrapping around the bottom of her painting is a starlit sky.

“And here is that tent at night,” Vaux said.

In the bottom right corner is the Minneapolis-based Davina and The Vagabonds.

That band played at last year’s street dance, which is held on the evening before the all-day events begin.

The Friday evening attractions also include a fire spinner.

That image is also visible in Vaux’s painting.

The central theme of her piece is the metal sculpture, which was created as part of a community workshop involving the arts board, Waupaca Foundry and Waupaca Parks and Recreation Department.

In 2013, an artist from Chilton was hired to bring her portable foundry to Arts on the Square.

People of all ages told their stories by etching into the tiles.

“Tell Your Story in the Tiles” resulted in this incredible sculpture, which in 2014, was installed in Waupaca’s South Park.

The piece is off the sidewalk which leads to the park’s beach.

Vaux said Arts on the Square is about serving the community through the arts.

“The center is really the focus of the entire collage,” she said of her painting.

The tiles are a direct link to the community, she said.

Posters of her image will be available at the information booth on the day of the event.

“None of this would be possible without community support,” Vaux said of Arts on the Square. “It’s a supportive board. They are all creative and all volunteers. Some are retired. Some are not. They are dedicated to creating this community gift. I’m really fortunate to be part of it.”

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