Green's Art-A-Palooza festival will include the final entry of deceased local artist

Alan Ashworth, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
Dianne Shaffer, Wendy Lewis' sister and Walt Grandell, Wendy's husband, hold a pixel quilt self portrait of Wendy in her quilting room at his home in Green.
Dianne Shaffer, Wendy Lewis' sister and Walt Grandell, Wendy's husband, hold a pixel quilt self portrait of Wendy in her quilting room at his home in Green.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

The annual Art-A-Palooza festival returns to Green on Saturday with more than 70 regional artists displaying their works at Boettler Park on Massillon Road.

This year, the popular event comes with a tinge of sadness.

The work of New Franklin artist Wendy Lewis will be included. Lewis, known for her quilting art and a previous winner at the festival, died July 8 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

The event is hosted by the city and the Green Arts Council and features artists, local food vendors, live music and children’s activities.

A floral quilt by Wendy Lewis hangs in her quilting room in her home in Green.
A floral quilt by Wendy Lewis hangs in her quilting room in her home in Green.

Admission and parking for the event are free.

Here are six things to know about the festival.

1. A wide variety of artists, art

The festival includes works in various mediums, including glass, fiber, ceramics and wood.

Pretty much everything to appeal to the art enthusiast inside everyone.

2. Donated pieces and a raffle

About 60 donated art works will be raffled off to provide scholarships for students pursuing an arts education.

"The Four Season of Jake", a paint on fabric work of her dog Jake, by the late artist Wendy Lewis hangs in the living room of her family's home in Green.
"The Four Season of Jake", a paint on fabric work of her dog Jake, by the late artist Wendy Lewis hangs in the living room of her family's home in Green.

Raffle tickets will be available at the Green Arts Council tent. Tickets are $1, but the council offers an option for 15 tickets for $10.

3. Something for the kids

KinderCare will have a coloring mural available at the festival, along with crafts for children from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

4. Food and music

Food options include Cheezylicious, Bereka Coffee, John’s Gyro King, El Patron Tequileria, Lavern’s Kettle Korn, Chick-fil-A and D & M Grille.

A city of Green map of the location of the 2023 Art-A-Palooza. About 70 artists will show their work at the Aug. 19 event.
A city of Green map of the location of the 2023 Art-A-Palooza. About 70 artists will show their work at the Aug. 19 event.

Live entertainment from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes dulcimer music from Heather and Lisa Malyuk, flutist Don Fulmer and folk music from Dennis Kempthorne.

5. The work of Wendy Lewis

One of Lewis' final wishes was to return her works to the annual arts festival, but her health made that impossible, said her husband, Walt Grandell.

"I told her at the end that I was taking it to Art-A-Palooza, and she had a big smile," he said Tuesday.

Lewis was well known for her prize-winning quiltwork, but she worked in other media, including stained glass and painting, he said.

Prize ribbons hang on a wall in Wendy Lewis' quilting room in Green.
Prize ribbons hang on a wall in Wendy Lewis' quilting room in Green.

She had participated in the festival since its inception, he said.

6. Art and a bit of history at the Lichtenwalter Schoolhouse

Green's historic schoolhouse will be offering tours during the festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The 1880s, one-room schoolhouse is operated by the Green Historical Society.

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Green festival will include the final entry of deceased local artist