Queeny Art Fair

Louis Artists presents the Queeny Art Fair (formerly named The Art Fair at Queeny Park), the longest-running juried art fair west of the Mississippi river. The semi-annual Art Fair at Queen Park in the fall and spring are two of the most reputable, longest-running juried art fairs in the bi-state region and present a rare opportunity for the public to see and purchase original works of fine art and fine craft directly from the artists who create them. Louis County Art Association, under the leadership of Fred Garbotz and LouAnn Neinreiter, and after extensive negotiation with members of the St. Louis County Parks & Recreation Department, launched the first Art Happening at Queeny Park. It was an instant success; park rangers estimated a public attendance in the range of 20,000 to 30,000 for the weekend. There were 204 exhibitors participating that year, traveling from 23 States. The following years saw the event fine-tuned into something known nationwide as a show second to none in quality of artwork and artist amenities. In 1985 a second show was born for Queeny Park: the Missouri Spring Festival of Art. Initially, juried members of St. Louis County Art Association were exempt from the jury requirement for the Spring show. Meanwhile, other changes were in the making. There were two art associations with similar goals and considerable overlap of membership, St. Louis County Art Association and the West County Artists' Association. Some members of the two (specifically, Ed Kowalski and Peggy Carnes) believed that they would be more effective combining resources at that point in their history. With the backing of the two Boards, a new art show was held at the Clarkson-Clayton Shopping Center. It was an open show, held two consecutive years, with jurying requirements waived for members of the two groups. The intention was for the two to get better acquainted with each other in a friendly manner. The two Boards were encouraged to meet together in joint sessions. The outcome was the formation of the Greater St. Louis Art Association in 1988. This new group was to continue the commitments and traditions of the two parent organizations, drawing from the strengths of both. Management of the two art fairs at Queeny Park was then in the hands of the Greater St. Louis Art Association, and the Association has kept them alive through this day, looking to the future.