Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2009, Page 132

Description:	Weekends Worth the WaitBloomington High School South students waited for thereturn of two Bloomington fall traditions—The FourthStreet Art Festival and Lotus World Music and Arts Festival.When walking through the FourthStreet Art Festival you could see twotypes of people: those who created artand those who came to this annualLabor Day event to see what it hadto offer. Bloomington South studentscould be found in both groups.Though junior Nicole Smolikwas one of the student vendors, shewasnt behind a counter selling funkynecklaces or sculptural wall art. Shewas there with the orchestra, whichwent every year as an ensemble tosell lemonade as a fundraiser. Welike to reach out into the communitywhere they might not otherwise knowabout us, said Smolik. The mainappeal of this particular festival wasthe connection to the arts, and theavailability to them.Then of course, there was the performance aspect. Playing in a publicvenue outside of Souths campushelps us publicize and fundraise,grow as musicians, and play in frontof people were not so comfortablewith, said Smolik. They also joinedforces with rival school BloomingtonNorth for this event, and were alwaysasked back by the festival organizers.There were also students that cameto the festival seeking the arts. Mymom used to drag me to this stuff butnow I go out of my own free will,senior Francesca Ossi said. Hermother was very active in differentarts organizations such as Bloomington Area Arts Council, and had takenthe senior every year since she was infourth grade.Starting around eighth grade Ossistarted to go on her own. Ever sincethen she has gone every year andeven made her own system to getthe best experience possible fromthe festival. I like to take a lot oftime looking at artists, said Ossi.She carefully browsed each vendorsbooth twice, then went back oncemore to make her purchases, if necessary. Even if I dont buy something,its important to look. [Art is] made tobe seen.South involvement in the FourthStreet Art Festival was a representation of what the Panthers did in thecommunity; they stepped out of theircomfort zones, took chances, steppedacross rival boundaries, got the mostout of the experience that they could,and were always received well.-MARGARET MCGILLIVRAYSenior ConnerMcDaniel shares herexperiences from the^2008 Fourth Street Arti FestivalWas there a differencebetween what youexpected and whatyou actually saw?It was just a lot bigger than expected,there was a lot more,but pretty much what Iexpected to see.most unusual thingsyou saw?The different typesof people, that theywould all go to thesame thing. (That was)more surprising thanany of the actual art.>ia you purcnaseanything at Lotus?We got a (glass andtile) mosaic sun.Far right: Senior Francesca Ossi makes one ofher three stops at a Fourth Street artists booth.Third to right: Its cool to see the differentvendors that come back every year, saidsenior Allie Bierhaus. She and her sister Brookeenjoyed viewing what each vendor had to offerat the Fourth Street Art Festival.Second to right: Sophomore Grant Jellisonglances at vintage rings in the garage of the localVintage Warehouse Saturday at Fourth Street.Right: Stained glass was one of the many kindsof artwork sold at the Fourth Street Art Festival.PHOTOS BY MIRIAM KATZ132 I COMMUNITY I fourth street and lotus
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/8154
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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