20-year-old artist marks 20 years of Arts on the Square

WAUPACA – The Waupaca Community Arts Board (WCAB) is celebrating a landmark birthday this year: the 20th anniversary of Arts on the Square (AOTS), running August 7–15. Two decades of art, music, and community gathering culminate this year in what promises to be the biggest celebration yet.
In a fitting twist, this year’s commemorative poster, commissioned annually from a local artist, was created by Lily Swendrzynski, who happens to be exactly 20 years old herself, the same age as the festival she was illustrating. Lily is an accomplished local artist who also works at The Arts Hub.
Lily’s design draws its inspiration from the patterns and texture of a trout’s skin, its flowing shapes wrapping around and forming the lettering itself. The phrase “Swim Upstream” is more than poetic license, it marks the event’s move along the Waupaca River, to the grounds surrounding the new Arts Hub building and the neighboring Recreation Center. As Lily describes it:
“The phrase ‘Swim Upstream’ references the relocation of the event from downtown to an area between the Recreation Center and the new Arts Hub, while also connecting to the river that runs through Waupaca and toward that area of town. I wanted the design to feel connected to movement, change, and finding new paths while still staying rooted in the community.”
Art-quality copies of the poster can be purchased at Northern Home on Main Street in Waupaca, and at the AOTS Info Booth on August 15.

The 20th anniversary festivities kick off Friday, August 7, with the opening of a special display in the exhibit room at the Waupaca Library celebrating the events, the music, and the people who have made this tradition possible. The display, with refreshments, is open from 4 – 6 p.m. with a ceremony at 5 p.m. honoring Community First Credit Union, a prime supporter of the festival throughout its history.
From there, the celebration builds all week, leading to the Juried Arts Show at the Arts Hub on School St. on Saturday the 15th. Activities for children and adults fill the days in between, and of course, music will fill the air with performances at venues throughout downtown Monday through Thursday, building to everyone’s favorite: the Friday Night Street Dance. This year, fan favorite The Jimmys take the main stage to rock the night away, with food trucks and a beer bar keeping the party going. The following day, Saturday the 15th, musical acts play all day long.
For the full schedule of ARTicipation Week, the Street Dance, and the 20th Annual Arts on the Square, visit WaupacaArts.org.