Art Beat – South Bend
I am working on recovering from Art Beat!
Whew, what a show!
Whew, what a show!
Thousands of people flocked down Michigan Street and I couldn’t get over the constant steady stream of shoppers, it was overwhelming!
It was great to see so many of my friends and family at the show. They not only came to see my new jewelry designs but for some of them it was their first time to experience what it is that I really do for a living these days!!!!
Oodles of families came with their children to enjoy a great day of art and special activities planned just for children. I couldn’t help but take pictures of these adorable children that came by during the day. This little boy’s name was Ethan and the two of us struck up a great conversation. He’d just had his face painted and he was ready to soar in his bat boy cape.
Then the magic began as we watched this family who stopped to listen to the violin performers across from our booth.
This tiny little girl was drawn to the lilting sound of the violin. We witnessed something that is seldom seen these days as the young violinist got down on her knees right there in the street and played for this tiny little one, neither of them speaking yet communicating on a different level. It was amazing to watch her expressions as the violin took her to a place that only she understood. As another vendor said, “she totally gets it”! It sure tugged at the heart strings of those of us who were privy to witness this moment.
Yup, there was magic and nostalgia abound that day!
My booth was located right in front of the old State Theater! My gosh, I never ever noticed these incredible faces and carvings on the building when I was a kid going to the movies. Guess I was just too excited about the show or too young to appreciate them back then!
As I was standing there in the middle of Michigan Street putting up the booth with Ken that morning where I'd spent many a Saturday with my Mom shopping, the memories started to creep back one by one. My heart was full as I remembered all of the wonderful times we'd spent there together. Going to the Tea Room for lunch at Robertson’s where you could get a toy out of the “treasure chest”! Or the Peanut Shop where we’d go and the smell of fresh roasting peanuts on a cold winter’s day warmed you to your toes. Then there were times spent shopping at Kresge’s for trinkets or whatever you needed and the hope of getting a strawberry sundae at the soda counter. Every now and then they would have helium balloons lined up down the counter where you could choose a balloon and the waitress would pop it for you and out would float a piece of paper with “your” special discount price, usually a penny! It was the highlight of the shopping day. Oh, what an era gone by!
Art Beat volunteers couldn’t of been nicer or more helpful and the task of laying out so many vendor booths was well done!
Thank you Art Beat and South Bend for a wonderful day and the memories too!
