Shawn’s display of paintings at Art on the Square in 2022
by Susan K. Rogers
I am reporting on the 20th anniversary of Belleville, Illinois’ fabulous Art on the Square held on May 14, 15, and 16. It featured original work of over 100 artists including our own Shawn Cornell and me, Susan Rogers! I participated in the first one, 20 years ago and met Shawn there. He did not participate in that one but has for all of the rest! There are a lot of applicants each year because of the show’s high ratings and their special treatment of artists, so being accepted consistently and winning is not an easy feat. This year in the painting category (oils, watercolor, acrylics….) Shawn faced tough competition, but to his surprise (no surprise to me), he won Best of Category! This year he had a new and creative way to display his small, plein air oils. He placed them on miniature easels and hung them like framed paintings on the booth’s walls. Having a background in graphic design pays off again!
Shawn’s secrets to success are not very well-kept secrets, because he will tell you whatever you want to know! Recently, at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows with a small MOPAPA group, I asked many questions for this article and Shawn responded thoughtfully. I wish I had recorded it! He takes the time to see the extraordinary in things many would call ordinary. His devotion to painting only plein air and to capture the day are very important parts of his process. Each painting must meet his high standards. Trust me, as president of the “Save the Painting Club”, also the founder and only member, I have seen many of his oil paintings go from promising to a wiped-down ghost image. In an attempt to save the paintings, I often take photos, so many only exist in that form!
In 2007, the first year Art on the Square was rated number one, Shawn created the poster of the fountain for the show, seen in a recently published Marketplace magazine that Shawn is holding in the photograph in this article. In 2017, I had the privilege of creating the fair’s poster. It is hard to believe it was 20 years ago that this art fair began and continues to be such a successful and popular event. In spite of the high cost of gas, artists and patrons traveled many miles to be a part of this weekend when Belleville shines brightly! Last year, it was held in October, because of the pandemic. This year rain, wind and some hail only managed to slow it down temporarily!
I feel grateful to have a friend and mentor like Shawn and his dad, David. They always encouraged me, and many others with their kind, inspiring words. Sadly, we lost David in 2020, but he is present in so many ways thru his art, children, wife, family and friends.
Shawn holding a copy of Marketplace magazine with the fair’s 2007 poster on the cover.
Art on the Square provides the opportunity for people to show and see wonderful art. Does art make the world a better place? Art brings beauty into our world. By means of art, we become more expressive in a creative way, can communicate and get connected, and become united and have a healthy society. Therefore, art does make the world a better place. Let’s live our lives with art! Cheers!