During the Riverwalk Fine Art Fair, the Naperville Art League Booth is located across from the Riverwalk Dandelion Fountain, Jackson Avenue at Webster Street. The two-day event continued from 10AM to 5PM Sun., Sept. 22, 2024. Update! By noon art lovers had been enjoying the exhibit for two hours, rain or shine.
Naperville Art League Report
More than 100 top artists from around the world set up booths for the award-winning outdoor Riverwalk Fine Art Fair held today and Sunday, September 22, 2024, along Jackson Avenue as well as the Riverwalk in downtown Naperville. Hosted by the Naperville Art League, the showcase of fine art returns 10AM to 5PM Sunday. Admission is free.
To be accepted into the show, every artist’s work had to pass a jury process, noted Linda Vander Kolk, publicist for the Naperville Art League, saying that several hundred applications were received and competed for the available slots.
“In planning the event, we select top quality, original work, that reflects a good mix of art mediums and styles,” said Debbie Venezia, Director of Riverwalk Fine Art Fair. “This year’s fair includes a diverse group of artists exhibiting work in an array of mediums such as painting, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, fiber art, glass and more.”
Update / 2024 Riverwalk Fine Art Fair Award Recipients
Saturday morning, four individuals toured the juried Riverwalk Fine Art Fair, designating nine artists to be recognized in three levels, including “Best of Show,” “Awards of Excellence” and “Merit.” Award recipients are listed below with their disciplines, booth numbers and their current hometown.
Best of Show was awarded to Martina Celerin, Fiber, Booth #99, from Bloomington, Indiana.
Awards of Excellence were presented to John Chehak, Acrylic/Oil Painting, Booth #154, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Jeff Easley, Wood, Booth #98, from Parnell, Iowa*; Steve Lohr, Photography, Booth #69, from Olathe, Kansas; and Tim Peters, Ceramics, Booth #62, from Winter Haven, Florida.
Merit Awards went to Ben Calvert, Printmaking, Booth #89, from Villa Park, Illinois; Sharon Donovan, Jewelry, Booth # 95, from Ann Arbor, Michigan; Nolan Prohaska, Glass, Booth #131; and Glenn Woods, Ceramics, Booth #107, from Palm Harbor, Florida*.
Award-winning artists Jeff Easley and Glenn Woods also were recipients of NFAF Awards in 2023.
Riverwalk Fine Art Fair organizers appreciate all support
The 39th Riverwalk Fine Art Fair is funded, in part, by a City of Naperville SECA grant as well as various sponsors. To add to the festivities, the Naperville Art League has partnered with other area cultural organizations to provide live music, plein air art painting demos and children’s activities.
In addition to more than 100 booths of exhibits featuring thousands of creative works of art, food also will be available for sale on site during the art fair.
The Riverwalk Fine Art Fair is planned and hosted by volunteer members of the nonprofit Naperville Art League. The league’s Naperville Fine Art Center & Gallery, located at 508 N. Center Street along Fifth Avenue, is a year-round resource for the community offering classes, gallery shows, auctions, public art competitions, social events and more.
For more info, visit www.napervilleartleague.com.
A Snapshot of 2024 Riverwalk Fine Art Fair
PN photos were taken early Friday, before 10AM and after 5PM on Saturday, as well as throughout the day on Sunday. Hispanic Adventure photos courtesy of Pura Vida Talk and DuPage Hispanic Alliance. Dozens of NNHS Homecoming attendees also found the Riverwalk to be a colorful backdrop for photos while artists at the Riverwalk Fine Art Fair closed up for Saturday!
