At the Alley Art Festival – celebrating its 15th year – casual art lovers mingled with the artistic community Saturday in downtown Aurora.
The free arts festival showcased nearly 100 area artists and artisans on the pedestrian-friendly Water Street Mall and Downer Place between Stolp Avenue and Water Street.
The event highlighted locally-made art, jewelry, pottery, handmade goods and more. It has doubled in size since it debuted, but has stayed true to its origins over the years, Marissa Amoni, event director, said.
The festival focuses on showcasing only local artists who live within 30 miles of Aurora.
“We started with about 40 artists and now we have more than 90,” Amoni said. “We started on the Water Street Mall only and now we are on Downer Place as well.
“It’s really about supporting local art and getting to know local artists and seeing how important they are to the community,” Amoni said of the fest.
The event is also an opportunity for young people to see that they, too, can become artists, she said.
Aurora ceramic artist Collin Benson made his first appearance at Saturday’s art festival. The majority of his stoneware and porcelain pieces are in natural tones.
“I am dipping my toes into selling my work. It’s a good adventure,” Benson said. “It’s a whole different side of being an artist. This is a great venue to try it out.”
Benson was gratified that a buyer picked up one of his pieces for a gift.
“I am so glad it’s going to find a home,” he said.
Naperville resident Oletha Styles made several purchases at the festival.
“I love art so this is a perfect day,” Styles said.
She was enamored with a paper mache sculpture of a woman with arms stretched out holding a bird. The piece was created by Oswego artist Ray Linden, who was making his first appearance at the Alley Art Festival. The three-dimensional sculpture covered in moss and red flowers had intricate facial details and a headband made of twigs.
“I don’t have an explanation of how I came up with this. It just comes out of me,” said Linden, a mixed-media artist, whose work includes acrylic paintings and varying sizes of paper mache sculptures.
“It’s a sculpture that’s really unique,” Styles said.
“Art makes me happy,” she said. “I’m especially attracted to flowers and unique colors.”
She said the Alley Art Festival has a lot to offer.
“There’s so much beautiful art. Plus, I love being in downtown Aurora. There are so many beautiful places to visit,” she said, referencing the merchants and restaurants.
St. Charles artist Kelsey Rankin specializes in gemstone jewelry but she also creates floral crown headbands. She’s been featured at the art festival for the past six years.
“I love the art community in Aurora,” Rankin said of the festival. “Aurora is supportive of independent artists, plus it’s fun to meet other artists. The talent here is incredible.”
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.