From Friday evening of Sept. 6 to the morning of Sept. 7, 2024, artists of all types make their way into River Falls’ Heritage Park and up the White Pathway. Overnight a tent city made of 10x10 booths rises like dew along the White Pathway next to the Kinnickinnic River between Maple and Falls streets. Art on the Kinni (AOK) is a juried art show that brings together the cream of artists from the surrounding area.

As the sun dawns, 15 painters take a day off from painting to sell their work. Eleven jewelry artists arrange jewelry displays. Eight wood workers set out their wood creations in variegated, repurposed, sculpted, sanded, turned and creative ways. Seven potters unwrap their cups, plates, bowls and hand-built creations to display them for customers to contemplate. Four fiber artists share their finest work while photographers mount photos on easels and peg boards for the upcoming art fair. AOK includes 77 different artists and 88 booths including food vendors.

There’s a bit of a chill in the air as a gator driven by Tammi Miller from Community Arts Base (C.A.B.) twines through the crowd delivering scones and coffee, making the day a little easier for this AOK beehive of activity.

The art fair starts at 9 a.m. and 5,281 people come through in a steady flow until 5 p.m. There are 14 C.A.B. volunteers who welcome people at the three entrances, hand out maps and help artists by providing breaks. The Art Event Coordinator this year is Brian Johnson. Brian has planned for the event with C.A.B. President Kay Fritz since January. It is his first year making AOK happen.

From the artist’s point of view the weather is nearly perfect. Riffs of music from 10 local bands waft through the air throughout the day. Kids laugh at the Scape Goats gobbling buckthorn in the woods just behind the booths. It feels like there is a lot of good buying energy. People of all ages and types roll and stroll by like a small river of humanity. Fair goers generally peruse the fair from one end to the other and then loop back to make purchases once they have narrowed down what kind of art they really want. Sometimes they check back several times. Sometimes they even photograph things to purchase for friends or relatives. There’s a lot of good feedback and exposure for artists regardless of sales.

By 1 p.m. art fair judges Jill Berke and Susan Bushard have reviewed all booths and found their winners: Best in Show goes to Lawrence Sawyer for his photography. Runner up belongs to Kate Bauman’s ceramics booth. Honorable mentions go to both Vic Rouleau for yard art, and Carrie Kaplan for her jewelry booth.

At 5 p.m. artists pack up. The Scape Goat farmer herds his goats into their trailer and the tent city does a fast take down. Many artists move on to other weekends with other art fairs.