How did a little city in
Southwestern
Illinois become the site of a nationally recognized art festival? It
started almost 24 years ago when a former
alderman,
Gene Ellerbush, visited the Mystic, Connecticut, Outdoor Art Festival
and realized
that Fairview Heights might be able to present a similar outdoor event. The City Council
appointed Mrs.
Billy McLemore as head of a committee to explore the possibility. The project had
begun.
Mystic
was revisited,
and other art fairs were contacted, including the renowned Festival of
the Masters
in Orlando, Florida.
When the research was finished, it became apparent that Fairview Heights had the
resources and the
spirit to present such an event. The decision was made - let's do it!
The
Midwest Salute to
the Masters was established with the goal of combining the community involvement of the
Mystic show with
the ultra-high standards of the Orlando "Masters" show. After much hard work
and untold
hours of planning, the first Midwest Salute to the Masters was held on the
weekend of October
1st and 2nd 1988. It was received with both critical and popular
acclaim!
Today,
the show is
known as the Midwest Salute to the Arts. The
all volunteer staff continues to work toward the common goal of
presenting one of the premier art festivals in the country. |
