Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair
September 27 – 29, 2019
Friday: 5-8 | Saturday: 10-5 | Sunday: 10-4
It's our 57th anniversary for bringing original art to central Illinois and we want you to be a part of the celebration! As one of the oldest art organizations in the country, the Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair is nationally recognized. We offer affordable hotel rates, convenient parking, and 500+ volunteers. This is the Peoria Art Guild's major fundraising event of the year. All proceeds benefit the Art Guild's community outreach and programming. Thank You to all of our Sponsors for all they do to support this event!
Location
Riverfront Festival Park
200 NE Water Street
Peoria, IL
Note: The Peoria Park District requests that no animals be allowed unless for therapeutic or emotional support.
Free Parking / Click here for parking map
Admission
$6 per person per day
CHILDREN 12 & UNDER FREE
MEMBERS FREe
Artists
Showcasing 130 nationally recognized artists who love Peoria! Original works of art will include jewelry, painting, ceramics, photography, digital art, printmaking, mixed media, metal, glass, wood, sculpture, fiber, leather, and wearable fiber.
I BUY ART: Supporting the arts in Peoria
Again this year, we are proud to promote the I BUY ART Campaign which is exclusive to the Fine Art Fair in Peoria. The campaign was 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.
2019 Poster Artist- Brian Jensen
“As a child I spent time on Minnesota lakes, and especially enjoyed spotting classic wooden boats. I started painting and drawing at a young age and painted with my father, a graphic designer. After graduating from the Minneapolis college of art and design, I went on to a career as an illustrator. I love to explore the beauty of lakes, landscapes, urban life, vintage boats, cars and motorcycles. I now have a studio where I paint in Northeast Minneapolis.”- Brian Jensen
2019 Emerging Artist- Stephen Younglove
“My father in law encouraged my start in woodworking over 30 years ago. My furniture making skills developed and I had four pieces published, with one in Fine Woodworking magazine. I was drawn to exotic wood as I searched for materials to make distinctive jewelry keepers for some special people in my life. The range of tones and grains inspired me. I developed a joinery technique that challenged me to combine the varieties and then manipulate the wood to expose unique patterns. I want the viewer to be drawn to discover the piece from different angles and ponder how it was done.”- Stephen Younglove
2019 Guest Artist- Katie VerKuilen
Katie VerKuilen teaches at the Peoria Art Guild, teaching short-term classes for all age groups.She is interested in pursuing special makeup effects for theatre and film while continuing to explore clay. Katie attended Western Illinois University from 2012-2017, receiving a Bachelor’s of Fine Art Degree in May 2017. Her degree emphasis is in Ceramics, and she also works in drawing and painting. The subject matter of her clay work intertwines plant and fungal forms with the somewhat abstracted human figure. The theme of “change” is prevalent in this body of work, suggesting a metamorphosis of the person obscured by plants.
2019 Guest Artist- Tyler Brandon
Tyler has been working in ceramics since 2005. Graduating from Bradley University in 2010 with a BFA in ceramics and art history, he continued his dedication to clay through teaching, residencies and as a working artist. Tyler finds the meditation of throwing and the science and alchemy of fire endlessly inspirational and strives to share that love through his functional art.
CEFCU, City of Peoria and PACVB Community Mural
If you think the kids are the only ones having fun, the interactive Community Mural is designed for adults. It takes hundreds of people to participate in this fun, hands-on activity — and everyone attending the fair can watch as the mural literally comes together tile-by-tile over this three-day event. It's free, it's fun and it's Peoria's nod to our extremely talented poster artist Brian Jensen.
Kids Art Festival
Admission $6
This year the Kids Fine Art Fair will be focusing on the elements of art. Each of the 7 tent areas will have activities revolving around the elements of art. Caterpillar COLOR wheels exploring watercolor paints. Collage Monsters using SHAPES. Kids will develop LINE into Landscapes using markers. Printmaking with a new twist using Gelli printing plates to create many TEXTURES. Kids will have the opportunity to explore VALUE using pencil and pastels. Dive into FORM with clay to create sculptures and coil pots. There will be a large Interactive mural to paint incorporating SPACE. As always face painting is a favorite!
Other things offered will include:
ISU Center for Math, Science & Technology STEM projects
River City Labs interactive STEM projects
Entertainment
On entering the fair, you can enjoy live musical selections throughout our scenic riverfront as a backdrop to your viewing and purchasing of the art on display.
Food & Beverages
Exceptional palate-pleasers from some of Peoria's favorites will be available from:
Nick N Willy’s Pizza
Mikes Knot Just Ribs
Untamed Chef
Haddad’s
Gramma Nana’s Kitchen
Popcorn Heaven
Demarchi’s Coffee
Janes Sweet Addiction
Beer, Wine, and Water Tents
Water, beer, red & white wines will be available to purchase at several locations throughout the fair.
Peoria Art Guild Information
The best volunteers on the planet will answer all your questions about the Fine Art Fair, locating a specific artist, or directions to the Kids Art Festival. They can also tell you about upcoming special events. A fundraising raffle will also be at the PAG tent with current works from participating artists. And don't miss the official Fine Art Fair commemorative poster and T-shirts. They are a great, affordable way to support the Fine Art Fair.
Fine Art Fair posters $10
T-shirts $20 (adult sizes only)
