Local News
‘All Things Italian’ brings in a crowd
FAIRFIELD — There are some people who seem to know everyone they meet. Even the people they don’t know.
Dick DeAngelis is one of those. He’s got a big grin and greets people with a wave. And he was in his element Friday.
The “All Things Italian” Art Walk is the biggest walk of the year for Fairfield. Parking within three blocks of the square is possible — IF you arrive before the official 6 p.m. starting time. Arrive on time and you had better wear comfortable walking shoes.
DeAngelis is one of the people who helped get the Italian art walk started. SOFIA, Fairfield’s Italian-American society, came up with the idea a few years back.
“We decided about four years ago ... to help out with the art walk,” DeAngelis said.
The first year drew well, but year two brought in more than 2,000 people. Last year topped that with 3,500.
It’s getting crowded as DeAngelis talks at 6:15 p.m. The cannoli concession is getting a pretty steady stream of customers, as are locations selling lasagna, Italian cookies and ices. But DeAngelis isn’t impressed yet.
“Wait ‘till it starts getting going,” he says.
He’s right. Less than an hour later it’s almost impossible to maneuver a stroller down the sidewalks near the food. There’s more space in other parts of the square, but nothing like the open lawns people strolled just minutes earlier.
This is the Art Walk to see, according to most in attendance. Mary Curtis came down from Iowa City with her niece, Alice Hill. It’s not a bad drive from Iowa City to Fairfield, but Hill came from California.
Lou and Kathy Foggia came in from Des Moines. They’re active with the Italian-American groups in Des Moines and had heard about Fairfield’s event from people who attended previous years.
“I’ve heard that this is a nice evening,” said Lou, who wasn’t the only person wearing a shirt with “Italia” embroidered on it.
John Preston had the northwestern corner of the square almost to himself for a while. Then people noticed he was painting. He was one of the artists invited to come out and paint or sketch outside during the art walk. People wandered by, stopped to watch for a moment, then moved on.
That was actually one of Preston’s big challenges. People stayed in motion. Few stayed put long enough for him to do the quick sketches that form the basis for his watercolor paintings.
“It’s a nice work trying to sketch people,” he said. Most stood up to leave just about the time he started to capture them.
That’s where Jaren Fleischman and David Sinton had an advantage. Both carried cameras to document the evening. For Fleischman, 14, it was a chance to compete in a photo contest. He took 2nd Place last year and hoped to win this time.
But that wasn’t why he was really out with his camera. Competing is nice, he said. So is winning. “But I mostly do it for fun.”
Fun for Fleischman is work for Sinton. Not that he doesn’t enjoy it. He does. That’s why he is a wedding photographer.
Friday’s Art Walk offered a change of pace.
“It’s a good opportunity to get out and play with the camera,” he said.
Preston, Sinton and Fleischman were the exceptions, though. Most people came, wandered, ate and listened to the music. They had fun.
That’s what DeAngelis hoped for. Good crowds, good food and music. And, of course, plenty of people to meet.
Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com
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