It’s that time of year for the 4th Street Festival of the Arts in lovely Bloomington, Indiana. I pop in year after year, and, year after year, I am just a little more disappointed. Disappointed that the glass, ceramics, textiles, watercolors — all of it — are so cookie-cutter slick. Disappointed not to see anyone really taking some creative risks. And disappointed in the judging, since artists purveying any originality, passion, or raw vision are invariably overlooked. At least there was something I knew I could do about the judging. I decided to create and present SusanLand National awards to my three favorite artists at this year’s festival.

Armed with handmade ribbons for Most Spectacular, Most Visionary, and Most Imaginative and a few gift copies of The Not-So-Lost Soul Companion, I waded through the crowds to look through each booth for something — anything! — that could be considered spectacular, visionary, or imaginative. And as much as I hate to say it, I never found them.

–S.