Even after 31 years in the community, the Black Swamp Arts Festival (BSAF) continues to be a huge community draw. The festival, which took place from Sept. 6 to 9, showcased art and food vendors, bringing people from across the country together to celebrate art and the community.
For some, it was their first time coming to the Black Swamp Arts Festival. For others, the BSAF is a yearly tradition. Lisa Keegan, a Cincinnati native, came to Bowling Green to experience her daughter Ally’s favorite annual event.
“My daughter is a senior this year, and this has been one of her favorite things at BGSU, so this is the first time I was able to experience it,” Keegan said.
Keegan’s daughter Ally, a senior English education major at Bowling Green State University, has gone to the BSAF for several years, and has a favorite bonus activity brought on by the festival.
“Actually I was just telling them about how it is also like a fashion show at the same time. Like I love watching everyone’s outfits,” Keegan said.
The Black Swamp Arts Festival contained a variety of artworks including clay, metals, and prints. Local resident Courtney Gabrie gave her input on some of her favorite artworks featured.
Gabrie said her favorite things at the festival are here year after year.
“Probably more like the jewelry or the pottery stuff. I’ve actually come to this for a couple years, it’s really nice for the community and to bring the local town and the campus together too,” Gabrie said.
With around 40,000 attendees, and 154 art vendors, the opportunities for patrons to find something they resonated with were abundant.
Vendor Erika Miklovic, a teacher and artist from Findlay, Ohio, had a booth consisting of original fine art painting, prints and greeting cards. Miklovic said she used her love for nature as a constant inspiration for the work at her booth.
“I am surrounded by nature and so a lot of my artwork is inspired by the landscape…and I love flowers and my garden,” said Miklovic.
Two other local vendors, Bridget Hale and Dania Alverado, both said their inspiration comes from everything around them. Hale’s business, based in Toledo, consists of polymer clay earrings and accessories, while BG alumni Alverado finds inspiration from her Latina heritage, creating indoor tropical house plants, and unique pots.
“Sometimes I’ll see somebody that’s got a cool shirt on, and I’ll take a picture… I’m like, ‘that’ll look good as a pair of earrings,’” Hale said. “Sometimes if I think something’s cool or funky or cute… maybe others will as well.”
For more information about Bridget Hale’s business, you can check out their Instagram at claybybridget.
For more information about Dania Alverado’s business, you can check out their Instagram at la_chiquita_selva.
For more information about Erika Miklovic’s business, you can check out their Instagram at erika_miklovic.art.
