The Urbana Park District, in partnership with 40 North, the Champaign County Arts Council, will start a new tradition this year, bringing fine arts into its oldest park with the inaugural Crystal Lake Park Art Fair on Aug. 3.
Over 30 artists will show at the juried art fair, which will feature painting, textiles, photography, ceramics and pottery, jewelry, and mixed-media.
“This is a one-of-a-kind event in that it is outdoors in beautiful Crystal Lake Park. We have had other art fairs in town, but this one is absolutely unique,” says Rachel Storm, arts and culture coordinator for the City of Urbana.
Storm says while Urbana has been home to the annual Urbana Art Expo, the Art Fair of the Craft League of Champaign Urbana, Imbibe Urbana’s biannual Mistletoe & Revelry Markets, and Urbana’s new Downtown Get Down Arts Market, among others, no art fair has been held in one of Urbana Park District’s parks.
“We are very excited to have the Crystal Lake Art Fair in one of the most picturesque parks within our city, showcasing our dynamic local arts scene against the backdrop of stunning natural landscape,” says Storm.
Janet Soesbe, community program manager at the Urbana Park District, says the park district has wanted to do a juried art fair for a long time; it was the opportunity to work with 40 North that helped turn the idea into action.
“We are happy to partner with 40 North to put on this inaugural fair in our oldest park,” says Soesbe.
She added, “I’m hopeful that the artists will make some great sales and new connections. We want this to grow each year as the park improves.”
The Crystal Lake Park Art Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to a wide array of art on display and for sale, the event will include a kids make and take table area and a free, drop-in mosaics workshop from 12-3 p.m.
Accessible parking will be available at the Broadway Avenue park entrance across from the Crystal View apartments. Overflow parking will be located at the former Washington School.
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