Spring ahead at One-of-a-Kind Spring Show

The first ever One-of-a-Kind Spring Show will take place at The Mart on April 29 – May 1. Usually a once a year event that kicks off the holiday season, this event is just in time for Mother’s day. The event promises to be as big and as popular as the winter show. The One-of-a-Kind Spring Show provides shoppers with three days to bring together 300 talented artists selling their work, presenting gourmet food demonstrations, offering live performances by musicians and the One-of-a-Kind Spring Fashion Show. All products sold and exhibited are by the artists and are handmade. All exhibitors are the designers/makers and are involved in the creation and production of their arts and crafts. This is your opportunity to meet the artist as well as pick up some truly creative and wonderful works of art, crafts and innovative finds. Shopper’s looking for museum ready pieces can visit the Fine Art Gallery in the center of the show floor. The gallery will feature a curated exhibition of painting and sculpture featured at the show.

First Time Exhibitors

The Spring show has many first time exhibitors. This will be the first showing of work by artist Michael Michaud. He combines his deep knowledge of glass with a keen eye for color and design to provide customers with a unique and long-lasting work of wearable art. Michaud began his career working for his father and creating glass jewelry licensed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Also new to One-of-a-Kind's stable of artists is Chattanooga- based artist, Hope Bailey. Her porcelain work (under the name Hope + Mary) is carefully and painstakingly hand-decorated using a traditional Korean slip-inlay technique called mishima. No two of the resulting pieces are alike. The works add humor and interest to any tablescape.

The Spring Show will also be a first-time collaboration with Chicago’s Lillstreet Art Center. Lillstreet Art Center has been supporting arts in the Chicago community for over 35 years. In short, Lillstreet is amazing. For those that have never ventured to their location, this offers the next best thing. The art center will host complimentary demonstrations, workshops and hands-on experiences throughout each day of the show. Lillstreet will introduce shoppers to their unique classes including offerings in ceramics, metals, drawing and painting, textiles and printmaking. It is a place that is perfect for the whole family as many classes are designed specifically to engage and introduce children to a variety of creative media. Shoppers can return home not only with wonderful work by local artist but bring their own artistic creations to fruition. There are over 40 classes to pick from!

Live Entertainment from the
Old Town School of Folk Music

Talented musicians from the Old Town School of Folk Musicwill perform live music throughout the show. Friday will open with the music of Shelley Miller. Miller is known for blending musical stories that are rich with melody, imagery and soul. Friday ends with nationally acclaimed, bluegrass instrumentalist Chris Walz.

On Saturday, the Old Town School will feature jazz from Jack Cassidy. He will be playing music from his newly released SYMBIA.  Multi-instrumentalists Anna and Evan Jacobson play toe-tappin’ tunes from all over the world on fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin. Sunday features Middle Eastern music by guitarist Alex Farha and Barb Silverman. Silverman's is know as a “Folk-festival-in-a-box” with musical styles that vary from swing to old-time country, rural blues to novelty tin pan alley, and lovely moving originals.

The One of a Kind Spring Show will take place 

April 29 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.,
April 30 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
May 1 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
at The Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL.

Ticket to the event are available at the door. Admission is $10. Kids under 12 are free.

Ticket packages with parking and lunch or group tickets are also available. For more information, tickets, a class schedule or events, go to:

http://oneofakindshowchicago.com/spring/attend/features