Hosted annually every Fourth of July weekend, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival fills the streets of Cherry Creek North with 250 artists sharing their work for the public to enjoy for free. The artists change every year, with only a few receiving invitations to return, such as the winners of the previous year’s competitions.
It’s an ideal chance to seek inspiration, connect with others through art and broaden one’s perspective. Learning about each artist’s process can be inspiring, and both parties can gain more insight into each piece.
“I learned so much about my own artwork, but through other people’s eyes, because you’re kind of blind to it, or you’re just doing your thing, and then sometimes it takes a total stranger to say, ‘Oh, did you notice this?’ And you’ve learned so much about yourself, and it’s just interesting to see what people respond to,” said Mai Wyn Shantz, an artist participating this year in the Cherry Creek Arts Festival.
Shantz opened her gallery, called Mai Wyn Fine Art, on Santa Fe Drive in 2008. Running the gallery connected her with many artists and gave her the opportunity to participate in the festival as a juror for that year’s festival. As a juror, she scored each applicant’s work from one to seven during the application process. During the weekend, the jurors vote on the top three best in show, top three merit awards and three jurors’ choice awards. Years later, 2024 will be her first year on display at the festival.
“When I ran the gallery, they asked me to jury, and it was such an interesting process to sit on that side and talk about what we saw and who stood out in our minds,” Shantz said. “I really had this amazing insight as to what they’re looking for. I was so inspired because the panel of jurors is made up of art professionals, but it’s also some artists that have exhibited there over the years.”
Shantz has always been driven by her passion for art in all aspects of her life. In college, she started painting on metal sheets, which kick-started her career, opening opportunities to showcase her art in galleries right after graduation. When the pandemic hit, she closed her gallery and started painting in her house, giving her more time with her daughter and brand new inspiration.
“This whole body of work is sort of inspired by [my daughter’s] little paintings. She’ll sit out here and have her little easel, and we’ll paint together. It’s sort of about seeing nature through her eyes and her love of rainbows,” she said. “Then I started actually playing with the idea of the rainbow silhouette.”
Shantz’s specialty is landscapes and animals. Almost all of her paintings depict things she has seen on walks, vacations or places she holds near and dear to her heart that are associated with childhood memories.
“I spent a lot of time as a kid in Wisconsin sitting in the bow of a canoe and just looking at the sky and just taking it all in. It’s always been my desire to share that beauty, the purity of it all, and awe of nature,” Shantz said.
Shantz is very excited but also nervous about this festival since it will be the first time she displays her work. Like every artist in this festival, she competed against thousands of applicants to be chosen as one of the 250 for this weekend. Some artists make around $20,000 during the long weekend, while others don’t make a dime. Shantz said she isn’t too worried about that.
“I would love to make a profit, but making connections to a new group of clients is really important for me, and so even if I walk away with just that, I’ll be pleased. It’s the thing about art that I think people don’t always think about; it’s like being a gambler. There’s always the potential,” Shantz said.
The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is open July 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and July 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Early morning and evening hours give everyone the opportunity to see art without the crowds and heat. For those hoping to check out Shantz’s work, her booth number is 237. For more details about the location, view the event’s map.
“I think that the big worry for people is the heat and the crowds. And I think if that’s how you feel, come early,” she added. “But at the same time, we don’t realize Cherry Creek is one of the highest-rated art fairs in the country. We should be proud of that.”
