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New Trier Teen Entrepreneurs at Wilmette Summerfest

From crazy top hats to hand-blown glass pendants, several New Trier High School students are selling their works during the festival, which ends Saturday.

By Chi-an Chang
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July 13, 2012

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Claire Hogan is a teen arts ambassador for Wilmette Arts Guild and Wilmette-Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce. She recruited the artists featured at the teen entrepreneur section of the festival. At 8-years-old, Hogan took part in her first art festival in Evanston selling small boxes.

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Claire Hogan is a teen arts ambassador for Wilmette Arts Guild and Wilmette-Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce.

She recruited the artists featured at the teen entrepreneur section of the festival.

At 8-years-old, Hogan took part in her first art festival in Evanston selling small boxes.

Credit Chi-an Chang

Now she’s selling encaustic paintings, where she melts wax on glass to create different patterns.

“It’s nice to have something for teens where we don’t have to hide the fact we are teens,” Hogan said.

Credit Chi-an Chang

In the past, Hogan’s mom Anne would have to sneak her work into shows.

“If I sent pictures of her work in, they’d be juried into the show, but often she was too young to participate,” Anne said.

Apart from paintings, Hogan started making jewelry about a year ago and is also selling them at the festival.

Price: $10 - $150

Credit Chi-an Chang

Grace Bono made 25 hats with 15 different designs for Wilmette’s Summerfest. She typically sells the hats for $65 online but is offering them for $20 at the festival.

“I’m selling them for less because it’s not a targeted market and people are more forgiving if things are not perfect,” Bono said.

Credit Chi-an Chang

“This is a great program, it’s rare for street art shows to be free, usually it’s a ridiculous price or you have to sneak in because you are a teen,” Bono said.

Creativity runs in Bono's family, both her parents are also artists.

Price: $20

Credit Chi-an Chang

Hayley Shelton has always loved to braid hair and started making hair clips in 2011 because it was cheaper than buying it.

The New Trier High School student is often seen in school hallways braiding hair, according to friend Grace Bono, who has a booth nearby.

Shelton is now offering hair wraps and hair clips at Wilmette’s Summerfest.

Price: $0.50 - $10

Credit Chi-an Chang

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Related Topics: Kenilworth Artists, New Trier High School, New Trier Township High School District 203, Wilmette Artists, and Wilmette Summerfest

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JJ Hanley

9:29 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012

Congratulations to our New Trier teen entrepreneurs!

Rosemary

10:23 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012

Great to highlight the teens! Wonderful photos really capture the flavor of the event.

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