Above / Naperville Art League hosts Riverwalk Fine Art Fair from 10AM to 5PM Sept. 18-19. Find their information booth at Jackson and Webster, across from the Riverwalk Dandelion Fountain.
The Naperville Art League will welcome 100 juried artists from across the nation to its 36th Annual Riverwalk Fine Art Fair to be held from 10AM to 5PM Sat. and Sun., Sept. 18 and Sun. 19. Artist booths will be along the Riverwalk and on Jackson Avenue between Main and Eagle streets. The fair will showcase a variety of artwork including painting, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, 2-D and 3-D mixed media, drawing, photography and fiber art.
Admission is free. According to Naperville Art League organizers, thousands of visitors are expected during the two-day, outdoor event.
Face masks will be strongly encouraged, hand sanitizer will be available throughout the show, and booth spacing will help keep visitors separated, organizers said.
More than an art fair
As host of the popular event, the Naperville Art League engages other nonprofits and local businesses through sponsorship and participation opportunities.
“This cooperative spirit plays a major role in bringing talented artists and art fair goers together,” notes Riverwalk Fine Art Fair (RFAF) director Debbie Venezia.
This year, as a prelude to the Naperville Sister Cities Commission’s Hispanic Heritage Festival in Central Park, also on Saturday from 11AM to 9PM, a section of the art fair is designated for children’s art activities that reflect the colorful culture of Cancun, Mexico.
Other entertainment will include a chalk art project in the center of the show, music at the amphitheater, and a DuPage Children’s Museum Activity Tent.
“We’re grateful to this year’s sponsors which include Main Street Promenade, Renewal by Andersen, Century Walk, Naperville Bank & Trust and others. The RFAF is funded in part through the City of Naperville’s SECA grant,” added Venezia.
History of Riverwalk Fine Art Fair
Riverwalk Fine Art Fair started 36 years ago when Naperville Art League members decided to do a publicity event promoting the new local outdoor art fair. They partnered with other local organizations and spent months making costumes and planning a reenactment of Georges Seurat’s painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” along the Naperville Riverwalk.
The staged event, pictured here, was a huge success and received international recognition through the AP wire service!
Since then, when the Naperville Riverwalk was just four years old, the award-winning art fair has grown and is recognized as one of the best art fairs in the nation.
Inspiring passion in the arts for 60 years
Naperville Art League (NAL), host of the event, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit volunteer organization with more than 200 artist and art enthusiast members with creativity that makes the organization new every day. Since 1961, NAL’s mission has been to provide art instruction and education, encourage interest in all forms of creative art, and stimulate understanding and appreciation of art in the community.
Dedicated to the community
From its beginning in 1961, the organization has impacted the Naperville community through providing classes for all ages and skill levels, presenting culturally enriching gallery shows, fostering public art, and more. In 1984, NAL was actively involved in commissioning one of the first sculptures in town: the striking 15-foot high, red sculpture just west of Eagle St. at the city’s Riverwalk entitled “Landforms” by artist Jack Arnold.
The Naperville Art League’s Naperville Fine Art Center & Gallery, located at 508 N. Center Street, is a resource to the community year-round for art, classes, special exhibits, auctions and more. Each month, new gallery exhibits showcase the work of talented member artists. These shows provide opportunities for art enthusiasts and collectors to purchase quality, original art at reasonable prices while giving members the opportunity to display pieces in a gallery setting.
Enjoy the “Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists “mural on Naperville Fine Art Center’s exterior. Designed by author/illustrator Mike Venezia and painted by Marianne Lisson Kuhn, it is one of the most colorful pieces on Naperville’s Century Walk
Art classes
A variety of classes are available to the public at the Naperville Fine Art Center & Gallery. NAL classes cover various media and skill levels and are offered throughout the week. NAL instructors provide the tools and encouragement needed to make even the novice feel comfortable. Class schedules are available on the website napervilleartleague.com. Some classes are also offered through the Naperville Park District’s Program Guide at their website napervilleparks.org.
Special Events
In addition to RFAF, monthly NAL members’ shows, traveling exhibits, fiber art displays, art auctions, and solo shows are presented. The public is invited to experience the versatility of the visual arts by attending these unique events. NAL also stages a public art competition and exhibition where artists from the community are invited to submit pieces for judging and prizes.
Art Around Town
See work by local artists for sale in the following businesses: Main Street Promenade, Elate Salon, Ellman’s Music Center, Colbert Customer Framing & Art Printing, Sweetwater Coffee & Tea, Lucky Penny Diner, Tasting deVine Cellars, and more.
Riverwalk Fine Art Fair ranks 89th of 200 Best art fairs in nation
Riverwalk Fine Art Fair ranked 89th of the 200 Best art fairs in the country over the past 10 years as announced by Sunshine Artist magazine. Debbie Venezia, Riverwalk Fine Art Fair Director and Sally Sharp, Naperville Art League President officially announced the news and that the fair, now in its 36th year, has consistently been a winner.
Artists and craftspeople are typically asked to cast their votes each spring for the 200 Best shows. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, there were fewer shows in 2020. Sunshine Artist decided to tabulate the best shows of the last decade, ranking them according to highest placement for the greatest number of years.
According to Sunshine Artist “The most objective indicator of a show’s future success is artists’ revenue. Subjective attributes, such as artist treatment, amenities, attendance levels, management and overall quality can impact sales but are harder to gauge.”
In addition to striving for excellence, Riverwalk Fine Art Fair connects various community organizations to the fair providing musicians, children’s’ crafts, art exploration, storytelling, and more.
The event complies with host Naperville Art League’s mission to provide art instruction and education, to encourage interest in all forms of creative art, to stimulate understanding and appreciation of art in the community, and to participate in other related activities.
Founder, planner and host of the Riverwalk Fine Art Fair, Naperville Art League is a 501(c)3 nonprofit business celebrating its 60th year. Naperville Art League memberships are available online at www.napervilleartleague.com, at the Naperville Fine Art Center & Gallery or by calling (630)-355-2530.
The League offers year-round art shows and classes at its Naperville Fine Art Center & Gallery, 508 N. Center Street, just north of Fifth Avenue.
For more information, visit www.napervilleartleague.com.
Story submitted by Linda VanderKolk for the Naperville Art League.
