Building upon the huge success of last year’s effort, the Peoria Heights Fine Art Fair returns to the Village’s Downtown on Saturday, May 14, with a record 70-plus artists operating in a wide variety of mediums.
The 2022 Fair, sponsored by the Peoria Heights Arts Collaborative, kicks off at 9a.m. and runs until 5 p.m.
While the Fair boasts of its diverse array of local and regional artists, there also will be representation from coast to coast and from the American Southwest – specifically Texas and New Mexico – this year.
Barb Milaccio and Theresa McDade co-chair the event, and they have been heartened by the Fair’s public embrace. They hope to top last year’s record of more than 3,000 visitors.
Helping that goal along will be more space to move about, as the Fair has been extended another full block along Prospect Road – which will be closed to traffic -- from Glen to Kelly Avenue. Entrance to the Fair is free, as is parking, which is available at a number of nearby spots.
New this year are an Eats and Drinks area, sponsored by Bond Eye Associates, featuring Clink Bar and food trucks from Grill ‘Em All and Cheese Nuts. There also will be a Children’s Activity Area in front of the Pabst building, sponsored by Big Picture Initiative. Finally, Random Strangers
and Sarah Marie Dillard (of Sarah and the Underground) will be performing on the balcony of AppsCo, just above Ipava State Bank at 4606 N. Prospect Road.
Again, each of the artists will be donating one piece of their work, available for sale through a silent auction at the main tent at Prospect and Duryea,
with the proceeds going to support future fairs.
While there will be plenty of activity for every taste, as always, the centerpiece is the art itself, which runs the gamut – ceramics, sculpture, drawing, painting, jewelry, glass, metal, fiber and textiles, photography, mixed media, printmaking, woodworking, etc. The prices also tend to be more accessible than at some art fairs, ranging from $30 to upwards of $1,000.
Meanwhile, the Fair is a juried event and there will be a best of show, with cash prizes of $1,000 (Tower Award), $500 (Grandview Award), $250 (Blue Ribbon Award) and $100 (Rutherford Award).
What sets this fair apart is the casual vibe of Peoria Heights’ popular Downtown, with its easy walkability, Restaurant Row and variety of shops.
“The anticipation of art patrons supporting local artists, restaurants and businesses is so fulfilling,” said Milaccio. “Our artists will delight fairgoers with a new array of works created during the pandemic.”
“I cannot wait,” added McDade. “The weather forecast is looking fantastic.”
“We welcome visitors every day to the Village of Peoria Heights but this is one of those events that really helps put us on the map,” said Peoria Heights Mayor Michael Phelan. “I invite everyone to come out and have a really good time.”
The Peoria Heights Arts Collaborative promotes the development, establishment and expansion of the arts in Peoria Heights by uniting with local artists, organizations, businesses and individuals to support and present ongoing art events, opportunities and education.
Follow the organization at:
https://www.peoriaheightsarts.com