Country air and fine art in Barrington

There is no painting from a postcard for this oil painter from Lake Zurich. He plants himself in the thick of the action — his favorite is a busy city street — with an easel and paints real life.

“We’re not working from a reference,” Radtke says of himself and artists who share his painting style and philosophy. “We’re painting what we see.”

The public will have an opportunity to browse Radtke’s paintings along with the artwork for at least 170 other artists at the 37th annual Art in the Barn event, a juried art show which will take place Sept. 24 and 25 on the grounds of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital at 450 W. Highway 22, in Barrington.

“It’s a terrific venue,” Radtke said. “It’s in a barn.”

Sharon Vogel, one of the co-chairs of Art in the Barn, explained that the event takes place in large old barns on the property of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital which was once made up of farmland.

“It really helps the hospital,” Vogel said of the event. “We’re probably one of their biggest fundraisers, but it’s a community event and that’s what we like about it. I mean we have people from all the surrounding communities.”

Most of the artists are from Illinois and surrounding states and they have a variety of different talents, Vogel said. There will be oil and acrylic painters, sketch artists, sculptors, jewelry makers, wood crafters and print makers.

The event might appeal to people who want to decorate their houses, Radke noted.

“You can buy anything at Walmart or any of the big box stores,” Radtke said, “but it’s not as individualized as having your own oil painting.”

Activities include pony rides for kids, and stations for children to make their own paintings and paint pumpkins. There will also be a variety of live music and entertainment, including couples that both play mandolins. On site there will be bratwursts, caramel corn and funnel cakes, she added.

“It’s just a warm, wonderful country atmosphere,” Vogel said.

Art in the Barn is sponsored by the Auxiliary of Good Shepherd Hospital, a group of volunteers that raises money for the hospital that serves the community, Sherry Tomasko, event co-chair, said in an e-mail.

In the past, the Auxiliary has raised funds that have helped Good Shepherd build a new Cardiac Care wing and a new emergency department, according to e-mail information from Faith Semla, an Auxiliary member who handles Art in the Barn publicity for the event.

In 1975, when a group of 10 women, artists and craftsmen put together the first Art in the Barn event, there were 30 artists and 1,500 visitors. That has grown to more than 170 artists and over 6,000 visitors, according to Auxiliary information.

Through the fundraiser, the Auxiliary usually makes about $100,000 for Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Vogel said. Over the years, the event has raised more than $2.75 million for the hospital.

While event admission is just $5, vendors pay a fee to exhibit and sell items. There is also a fee for children’s rides. Artists donate 20 percent of their profits to the Auxiliary.

This is Radtke’s third time exhibiting at Art in the Barn. He said he wanted to take part because he has accumulated many paintings over the years. While he has sold many this year, he wants to sell more.

“My goal this year was to go there with small paintings, many unframed, at affordable prices,” he said. He said he planned to sell many of his paintings for less than $100.