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Winter Fine Arts Fair Unites Community Through Art

With practiced strokes, Linda Schrenk, 48, recreates Spiderman's mask on 10-year-old Brandan Sickles. Schrenk began face painting after she lost her job as an art teacher when the economy soured, and has been transforming faces with her craft for nine years now.
With practiced strokes, Linda Schrenk, 48, recreates Spiderman's mask on 10-year-old Brandan Sickles. Schrenk began face painting after she lost her job as an art teacher when the economy soured, and has been transforming faces with her craft for nine years now.

For three afternoons, Tioga Town Center bustled with crowds of people, the smell of frying funnel cakes and the crooning vocals of local bands. An estimated 10,000 people showed up to the town center for the Winter Fine Arts Fair this weekend.

Parents, families and four-legged friends attended the event.  Draped under white-canvas tents, 124 artists showcased everything from traditional acrylic paintings to origami jewelry and everything in between.

Artist awards, a towering sand sculpture and a kids’ zone complete with a bounce house rounded out the night. The majority of event advertising was done through social media.

“I wanted to get people out here,” said Karen Koegel, director of the fair. “I wanted Tioga’s art fair…to be really seen by this community because I really thought there was some phenomenal artists here. And we got that. There’s been a lot of great sales. It’s been a great day.”

Susan is a reporter for WUFT News who may be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org