Artists were thrilled with the large crowds that converged on downtown Bowling Green this weekend, and in
most cases were pleased that visitors to the Black Swamp Arts Festival were in the mood to buy.
"It’s been fantastic," said Wesley Dallas Merritt, from Zionsville, Ind., about his first
appearance at the fest. What he called a great crowd had given him "the best show I’ve had since
March."
Many of Merritt’s watercolors featured his three daughters dressed in witches and faery garb; a mother
and child along a beach; and a prominent painting of young girls and a bay horse titled "A Horse
for My Daughters." [PHOTO
GALLERY]
The artist said he chose to not attend a show in Indianapolis this weekend in order to make the
three-hour drive to Bowling Green to bring his work to a new audience.
That decision paid off as judges presented him with the Dorothy Uber Bryan Painting Prize and $1,000.
Artists again and again commented on the large crowds downtown Saturday; festival planners typically put
the number attending the show between 50,000 and 60,000.
(pictured at left) Sylvia Pixley, whose relief prints from wood engravings took the Best of Show ribbon,
said the economic downtown that has hit many artists wasn’t as noticeable in Bowling Green. "This
is a very loyal artsy town," the artist, who also won best of show in 2004, stated Sunday morning.
"This art fair has been good to me. I enjoy coming here. It’s a nice show."
Pixley also was one of several artists who praised festival volunteers for providing a host of welcomed
amenities.
She made a point to tout the excellent work artists brought to the festival, commenting that others
deserved more recognition than she did.
Pixley, of Monroe, Mich., has made regular appearances in Bowling Green since she began exhibiting full
time in 2000; she also was a Best of Show winner in 2004, and the Bryan painting winner in 2003.
Her business overall has been down this year, she said, but some of that she attributed to a seven-week
hiatus this summer for a cross-country trip with stops at 25 national parks and a woodcarving workshop
in Chicago.
"Hopefully the trip will encourage me to stop doing bunnies and do more landscapes," she
stated.
The down time has allowed her to restock for upcoming shows in Louisville and Houston.
Clay sculpture Laurie Sharkus, who lives near Pixley, in Newport, Mich., stopped by to congratulate her
friend on her award, and said her festival business was down – but so had the entire year.
"I hope it gets better today," she said Sunday.
For jeweler Mike Kozumplik, of nearby Sherwood, the weekend had been pretty good, and Saturday "was
a pretty decent day."
He works in stainless steel and some gold to create necklaces, bracelets and earrings of natural themes,
many resembling tree twigs.
He did voice surprise that, given the hesitating economy, his last three shows have been better than the
previous year.
In Bowling Green, he was pleased with the good sales, good weather and good crowd. "They treat the
artist really well" here, he added.
Linda Brown, who co-chairs the festival’s visual arts committee said most artists were satisfied with
their sales with some reporting excellent business.
They are taking "a long view" of business hoping all the interest shown this weekend will
result in more sales when the economy gets better.
An honorable mention winner this year, he will automatically be invited back for the 2010 show.
Other award winners included Steven Cameron, of Adrian, Mich., who took second place for his wood work;
and Lisa Vetter, Spencerville, Ind., who won third place for her whimsical mixed media that included
bowling ball lamps and beer cap dog collars. Honorable mentions also went to painter Amy Taylor; painter
Judith Vierow; painter Suzanne Mays-Wentzell, who had work purchased by the festival for display at the
library; and Black Swamp veteran Marge Meserve, who has exhibited at every festival since its inception.

"The people have supported this festival since the first one," the artist said Sunday as
visitors wandered in and out of her booth which showcased her work with enamel.
This year, the Bowling Green resident committed to fewer shows in order to concentrate on building her
inventory for her hometown festival. She said she made a determined effort to have no expectations of
business this weekend, but had been pleasantly surprised. Sales, she added, had been at all price
points.
Also thrilled with business was Holland resident Gretchen Zientek, one of a trio of glass artists with
work on display in the Wood County Invitational. Her tent was filled with visitors – and better yet,
buyers – Saturday.
"We’ve really enjoyed it," she said about her first festival appearance. "I’ve been
incredibly impressed."
Shelby Golden, left, looks over Old Patagonia Pottery by artist Marty Frolick. 9/12/09 (Photo: J.D.
Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune)
Kristina Conroy, 6, making tie-dye t-shirt in kids art area. 9/12/09 (Photo: J.D.
Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune)