Oskaloosa’s Art On The Square A Staple For 50 Years

A group of artists and friends enjoys the shade as the 50th Annual Art on the Square comes to an end.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – To do something for a half a century takes dedication, and indicates a sense of pride in a community.

This weekend, Oskaloosa hosted the 50th Annual Art on the Square.

This year was a 2-day celebration of the creative spirit and those who enjoy it.

Paintings, jewelry, sculptures, glass-work, photography, and so much more was on display for the public to browse, enjoy and purchase from some of the best artists in the state and Midwest.

Vendors said that business was brisk in waves during the day, but during the morning on Saturday, the shoppers were really out in force.

Emily Brown, Main Street Director for Oskaloosa, is in her first year, and this was her first in that position. “It’s a wonderful event. We’ve got a really great group of artists that have come in, and they’ve made it incredibly easy.”

“We’ve heard a lot of great feedback from the artists about how things went this year,” said Brown.

Mother Nature had threatened to ruin the day, but the call was made early on that the show would continue on the square as planned. “Mother Nature backed down and took her thunderstorms somewhere else,” joked Brown.

The 50th Anniversary included an extra day to the festivities. Also included were several musical artists, interactive art experiences, a live mural, and kids experiences.

At first look, one might have thought there were fewer artists than years past, but in fact, there were two more than last year. The perception was due primarily to the fact that artists set up in the grass this year, leaving the sidewalks open for visitors to utilize.

Plans for the future of the show will depend upon survey questions, feedback, and other input to see what direction the show may take.