Rochester, Mich. ---At Paint Creek Center for the Arts’ (PCCA) annual Art & Apples Festival^®, the nonprofit community arts organization’s signature event that takes place September 5–7 at the sprawling Rochester Municipal Park, it’s not only the 60,000 guests who enjoy the festival. The juried artists at the heart of the event – there are approximately 250 of them - cite a variety of reasons for their new or continuing participation.
 
Luis Gutierrez, a 2023 Best in Show awardee, will again make the 12-hour drive from Raleigh, North Carolina, to display his pre-Hispanic-themed ceramic art.
 
“The pleasure of finding an art festival where people appreciate and are curious about my art is what motivates me to return,” Gutierrez. “They appreciate traditional and cultural art and value the effort I put into each of my works as a ceramist. When they see my technique, which I learned under the direction of my father at age 13, they are eager for a conversation about the different processes and contemporary touches involved in the richness of my ancestral technique.”
 
Acclaimed metalsmith and jewelry artist Chester Allen explains why he is making the 1,550-mile journey from New Orleans to Art & Apples for the second year this fall.
 
“My work is about life and living it through the lens of science, music and a fusion of cultural influences. I consider myself a philosopher with a ball peen hammer,” Allen said. “I see similarities between New Orleans and Michigan. I appreciate the connection to making things that come from the auto industry, the music that comes from Motown, and the connection to science that comes from the universities in Michigan. I look forward to reconnecting with my Michigan friends!”
 
Closer to home, Danielle Rancilio - whose medium is ceramics - is thrilled to be a first-time Art & Apples artist.  
 
“I've lived in Rochester Hills for almost 12 years and going to Art & Apples was my introduction to Rochester before we moved here,” Rancilio said. “It feels very special to participate; I love having the opportunity to participate in events in my community!”
 
Hailing from Sterling Heights, Michigan, metalsmith artist Lenny Sadro, Jr., has gone to the Art & Apples Festival several times and, like Rancilio, this will be his first time participating as an artist.
 
“I started making my welded metal art out of everyday metal items about three and a half years ago but didn't think my work was to the caliber of the artists I've see there.” Sadro said. “But after recommendations from several other artist to apply, I did, and I am humbled that I have been accepted and will now be a part of this incredible festival.”  
 
This annual three-day celebration of fine art has always had broad appeal for artists, according to Paint Creek Center for the Arts Executive Director Shaun Hayes.
 
“We had another record year of applicants, with 445 vying for a spot at this year’s show,” Hayes said. “The ability to attract new artists and retain previous exhibitors, too, is the key to our continuing success as a must-see show. 59 years in, we never let the festival get old.” 
 
PCCA is continually recognized for the caliber of fine art the organization presents to the community.  PCCA was named HOUR Detroit Magazine’s Best Art Gallery for 2025 and Best After School Program for 2025, in addition to being a 2025 HOUR Detroit Finalist for Best Art Fair and Best Place to Buy Art. Additionally, the Art & Apples Festival consistently lands on the Top 200 list of Fine Art and Design show listings by Sunshine Artist magazine as judged by artist profitability from the Festival.  
 
Art & Apples, made possible by presenting sponsor Genisys Credit Union, will open on Friday, September 5 from 2 p.m.–7 p.m. in Rochester Municipal Park and continue on Saturday, September 6 from 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sunday, September 7 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Note to attendees that a city ordinance forbids dogs at the festival. There are still a variety of sponsorship packages available for organizations that want to support this community celebration of art. For more information, please visit the Art & Apples sponsorship page on the website, call PCCA at 248-651-4110, or email Shaun Hayes at Shaun@PCCArt.org.  
 
About Paint Creek Center for the Arts
Paint Creek Center for the Arts (PCCA) is a regional nonprofit art center located in Downtown Rochester. PCCA is supported, in part, by contributions from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. PCCA’s mission is to build on our rich heritage of leading creativity in our community by providing opportunities for all to learn, create, and support creativity by providing opportunities for all to learn, create, experience and appreciate the arts. Learn more at pccart.org.