June 8, 2016 By Michael Florio
The annual art fair at Queen of Angels Church is returning for a ninth year.
The art fair, which is hosted by Sunnyside Artists, will take place this Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Queen Of Angels Church, located at 44-04 Skillman Ave.
The fair will showcase the work of 33 artists, 10 of whom are first-time participants. Each will have a table to display his or her work. The artwork will include paintings, watercolor, oil paintings, sculpture, ceramics and photography, according to Patricia Dorfman, founder of Sunnyside Artists.
Sunnyside Artists received over 75 entries from artists wishing to participate, but had to cut the list down.
“We only have room to feature 33 artists,” she said. “We wish we could take more, but we can’t.”
Last year more than 1,200 people attended the fair.
“Last year was our biggest year yet with over 1,200 attending,” Manny Gomez, President of Sunnyside Artists, said. “We ordered 1,000 pins to give out, and ran out before 3 o’clock.”
Dorfman hopes to exceed that number, but explained that it may be difficult just to match it.
“There is so much going on this weekend,” she said. “It is Ramadan, plus we have the Flag Parade.”
However, she is not worried about the turnout of the fair.
“I’m sure we will get at least 800 people throughout the day,” she said.
That has been a trend with the fair. The first year featured five artists and 75 attendees. However, word spread and the fair quickly grew.
Dorfman believes this has to do with the quality of artists now living in the neighborhood.
“I think we have more and better artists moving to the neighborhood and wanting to be in the show,” she said.
She also credits the Queen of Angels Church, which took a chance on this event and allows them to host it every year.
“Sunnyside is still a ‘small town in the big city,’” Dorfman said. “Visitors are more welcoming to a person putting him or herself out there no matter if emerging or more experienced.
“It is fun to see the growth of some of our artists each year, most of whom have day jobs,” she added.
Lunch will be available in the art café, plus there will be raffles that include a three-month membership to Phyzique (a local gym), as well as a gift certificate to a local spa.
“The food is either donated or made in-house,” Dorfman said. “People will be able to eat lunch for $5.”
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