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Alternative art fair planned to fill Tallman hole

JANESVILLE — Several Janesville business owners have gotten together to offer an alternative to the canceled Tallman Art and Music Festival.

Alicia Reid announced Wednesday that the Janesville Art Loop, featuring up to 25 artists and craftspeople, will take place Sunday, Aug. 2. Artists will be scattered at five locations on the city’s north side: Basics Cooperative, Bookworld, Earthsong Books & Gifts, Fudglies and Raven’s Wish.

Reid is owner of Raven’s Wish, an art gallery and custom frame shop.

“We are encouraging artists who respond to this call to demonstrate along with selling their work,” she says.

Several artists who display at Reid’s store were signed up to be at the 53rd annual Tallman Art and Music Festival.

“They count on that show as part of their yearly income,” Reid explains. “We just wanted to offer an alternative so they have an opportunity to show their work that weekend. We are sorry to see the festival canceled and needed another venue.”

Reid said she was trying to put together an art tour in the fall. When she learned the Tallman festival was cancelled, she moved up the date.

The Rock County Historical Society cited a lack of artists participating in the Tallman festival and a downturn in community sponsorship, when it announced last week that the long-running event would not happen as usual in August.

Festival organizers had hoped for at least 30 artists for the Tallman festival, which takes place on the Lincoln-Tallman House grounds on Jackson Street. But they had commitments from only about 15.

Historical society board members in September will start planning for an expanded and improved 2010 festival.

Reid said 10 artists are committed to be at the alternative event, which is free to the public. She is hoping to get up to 25. Artists and crafts people can sign up until Saturday. So far, artists and crafts people include potters, painters, soap makers, photographers and a fiber artist.

“We thought a lot of patrons were going to miss the show, so we hope they will come out and support this one,” Reid said.

“We hope we can all be at the Tallman festival next year.”