Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair

2019 Poster Artist- Brian Jensen

The oldest Art Fair in the country, the Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair. will celebrate 57 years of bringing original art to central Illinois at the 2019 Fine Art Fair on the Peoria Riverfront Friday, September 27th through Sunday, September 29th.   As one of the oldest art organizations in the country, the Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair is nationally recognized.

You’ll find art from 130 juried fine artists featuring original works of art including jewelry, painting, ceramics, photography, digital art, printmaking, mixed media, metal, glass, wood, sculpture, fiber, leather, and wearable fiber.  All fair-goers will be able to help create the interactive Community Mural designed for adults. It takes hundreds of people to participate in this fun, hands-on activity and watch as the mural literally comes together tile-by-tile over this three-day event.   Attendees can also try their hand at wheel-throwing a clay creation in the mobile pottery studio.

Younger folks will enjoy the Kid’s Art Festival where they can create their own masterpieces.  Each of the 7 tent areas will have activities revolving around the elements of art: exploring watercolor paints, collages, landscapes, printmaking, drawing with pencil and pastels, creating sculptures and coil pots plus large interactive mural plus face painting.  Also, the ISU Center for Math, Science & Technology and River City Labs will be on hand  with interactive STEM projects.

The “I Buy Art” campaign is exclusive to the Fine Art Fair in Peoria. Launched last year to reinforce a philosophy that the best way to support the arts is to buy art.  “We are thrilled to encourage this initiative that promotes Peoria as a community that supports its artists. This will enhance our Fine Art Fair and our city as a supportive art community that welcomes our guests and artists to come back another time and explore more of what Peoria has to offer.”, said Shannon Cox Co-Director of the Fine Art Fair. This year’s collector buttons are purple and can be obtained from the artists when you purchase their work.

Featured at this year’s event are 2019 Poster Artist- Brian Jensen, 2019 Emerging Artist- Stephen Younglove, 2019 Guest Artist- Katie VerKuilen and 2019 Guest Artist- Tyler Brandon.  Hours are 5 pm – 8 pm on Friday, from 10 am – 5 pm on Saturday and from 10 am – 4 pm on Sunday.  Admission is $6 for adults per day or free for Peoria Art Guild members and kids 12 and under.   Parking is free located near Festival Park on the street and in area parking lots.

Live entertainment will take place throughout the fair with Carl Bopp on the accordian, the Nitsch Theatre Arts Singapella, Natasha Greene and Scott Guirrelo on the Native American Flute & Hand Drumming, Emilele on the ukelele, Logan Nickerson singing and playing guitar, Kyle Bassett performing magic, Joe Couri singing and playing guitar, Sanson Lunival Lonergan, a Grand Master Hula Hooper and Nick Lee & Sara on Friday.  On Saturday, enjoy the Bradley Jazz Ensemble, Nitsch Theatre Arts Rising Stars, Projekts, the German American Central Society of Alphorns, the Bradley Chorale and the Mudra School of Dance Limited .  And on Sunday, hear  James Herr, an acoustic solo artist,  Audrey Voss, a student from Underground School of Sound and watch the Peoria Ballet and Mithili dance troupe.

Food from Nick N Willy’s Pizza, Mikes Knot Just Ribs, Untamed Chef, Haddad’s, Gramma Nana’s Kitchen, Popcorn Heaven, Demarchi’s Coffee and Jane’s Sweet Addiction will be available for purchase and beer and wine stations will be set up throughout the fair.  Find full details and order pre-event tickets at https://www.peoriaartguild.org