PUBLISHED IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE JULY 29, 2015

On Saturday and Sunday, The Chesterton Art Center will be hosting the 57th annual Chesterton Art Fair from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Wendy Marciniak, executive director for the Chesterton Art Center, is very excited about the upcoming event. “This year we have a lot of new artists. There will be over 85 artists from across the country participating with works like stained glass, paintings, drawings, metal work, and fiber art,” said Marciniak.

Funds raised for at the Chesterton Art Fair will help run the Chesterton Art Center, a not-for-profit center that has an extensive art education outreach for the community. “It helps fund children’s classes and adult classes as well. We also offer free classes to senior citizens every year,” said Marciniak.

“We believe that art is for everyone,” said Marciniak. “It’s a wonderful experience for family to explore art and see what a possibility is.”

During the festival, there will also be a children’s section.

“We have an extensive art education sector,” said Marciniak. “In the children’s area, they can make a piece of art and hang it up. At the end, when the family is about to leave, they can take it down and bring it home with them.”

In addition to the children’s section, there will also be caricature artist and live music, a band called Golden Fingers Ukulele Band.

Local church groups will have food available for purchase.

The history of the art fair proceed the art center of Chesterton.

“Fifty-seven years ago, a group of artists from Chicago, who summered in the dunes, were at the art festival,” said Marciniak. “After the first art fair, they created the Chesterton Art Center,” she said.

Admission to the Chesterton Art Fair is $5 for 12 and older, younger are free. For more information to the event, go towww.chestertonart.com.

Beth Casey is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.

Chesterton Art Fair

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 1 and 2

Where: Hawthorne Park, 405 Waverly Road, Porter

Admission: $5 ages 12 and up, children under 12 are free

Contact: 219-926-4711 or www.chestertonart.com