If you’ve ever made a trip to Good Shepherd Hospital for medical needs, planned or unplanned, this is one weekend where you can return to repay the favor. The 37th Annual Art in the Barn juried fine art show is happening this Saturday and Sunday, September 24th and 25th. Over 175 artists will be there to sell their creations and share their earnings to help fund hospital initiatives designed to keep us healthy.
A group of 10 women organized the first Art in the Barn with only 30 artists in 1974 to help raise money to build the hospital here in Barrington. The show has grown and, this weekend, they’re expecting up to 7,000 people to attend.
There will be painters, jewelry-makers, sculptors, photographers, ceramics artists and woodworkers on hand, just to name a few. The art will be on display in barns that were once used as food testing sites when the property was owned by Quaker Oats. Local jewelry designer, Anita Peters, says this art show is one of her favorites to participate in each year.
“I’ve done a lot of shows hosted by art promoters, but this one has a different feel. It’s not big and glitzy. It’s more like a home town art show. And I don’t know if people attending really realize that the artists give 20-percent of what they earn at this show back to Good Shepherd. I have 10 and 13 year old boys and, throughout the years, we’ve needed to use the hospital and we know how important it is to the community.” Anita also says this show is a great way to wind down the summer art fest season. “It has a nice feel to it. I like the barns, I like the way it is set up and they have activities for kids, too. It’s the last show before the winter weather returns and it just gets you into that fall feeling.”
Over the years, Art in the Barn has raised over $2.5 million dollars and paid for countless improvements to the hospital, including the construction of the new Cardiac Suite and Emergency Center. The cost of admission is $5.00 and there is no charge for children 12 and under. The show runs from 10 am to 5 pm on both days on the hospital grounds at 450 W. Highway 22 in Barrington. In addition to the art, there will be entertainment, food, pony rides and children’s art, too. And it’ll be our first trip back to the hospital since our new baby was born in July so we’re looking forward to supporting the cause with a much more leisurely visit ;).