By Alexandria Vasquez and Dan England

gtreporters@greeleytribune.com

You wouldnt think that a festival that features high-end art would be a good place for children. After all, children smear, touch and even break things. But coordinators of the Windsor Fine Arts Festival dont want to shoo children away. They want them there.

Organizers kept the popular Clearview Librarys drawing, face painting and chalk art contest on the sidewalks, but they also added a Creative Kids Art Show that will feature the winners of an art contest between the elementary schools of Windsor.

The activities will all take place in a childrens tent with enough space away from the fine art. The show will feature 100 images on display in the tent.

While the parents look around, we wanted to have some things for children to do, said Don Reichert, president of the board of directors for the festival. We felt it was important to have an educational part for this. We want children to understand what art can be.

The kids art show also gives children a place to display their work, Reichert said.

The only place they are able to display their art is in school, he said. Lets give them another avenue.

The festivals main focus, however, is the fine art. Organizers werent sure they would have a festival this year, but after the inaugural success of last year, they knew they had something to build on, both in the number of artists and patrons who attended. Many artists return this year, a good sign for a new event, Reichert said, and the event drew 5,000 last year, thousands more than what organizers were expecting.

It was a shot in the dark, he said. We didnt know if fine art was something we could generate interest for in northern Colorado. But theres a need and now we think theres an interest.

There are many arts and craft shows in the area but there, again, just isnt a fine arts show in northern Colorado, and I think people were attracted to the fact that this is something different. Its high-end art.

There are approximately 60 artists specializing in mediums such as painting, glassblowing and sculpture. They were chosen by a jury before being accepted for the show, and the quality of work is just second to none, Reichert said.

If anyone wants an opportunity to purchase some fine art for home, office or a gift, this is the perfect opportunity, Reichert said.

Tags: Fine Art