For over 135 years, the Peoria Art Guild has worked to exhibit contemporary art, created by some of the most talented and professional artists from all over the world. They’ve made it their mission to showcase talented artists with combined academic discipline in contemporary art. This year, the Peoria Art Guild will celebrate the Fine Art Fair’s 51st birthday. The Fine Art Fair is one of the largest and top ranking visual art events in Central Illinois, attracting over a hundred and fifty different artists from thirty States and four countries. Each year, they come together to display some of the most visually stunning pieces around.
Back in 1962, Marianne and Bill Bibo, the pioneers of the Fine Art Fair, started this event with only twenty-seven artists and even fewer volunteers. Fast forward to today’s numbers, this art fair now has about forty thousand different artists and over four hundred volunteers. “It was uncertain how our community would respond to such an event, and if this fair would allow for successive years,” says Brynn Kanikula, Special Events Coordinator. “The outpouring of support from our community and surrounding areas showed Marianne and Bill that Peoria was progressive and ready to embrace bringing the arts to new levels.”
The Fine Art Fair runs during the last full weekend in September (29th and 30th) and takes over the Peoria Riverfront, transforming it into an art gallery where viewers can see and buy artwork from each individual artist. These showcasing will include: 2D Mixed Media, 3D Mixed Media, Ceramics, Painting – Oils and Acrylics, Wearable Fiber, Jewelry, Printing Making, Metal, Wood, Photography, Watercolor, Digital Art, Glass and Leather. This also features a Children’s Art Festival, great local food and a Community Mural, for people who wish to channel their creativity. The Children’s Art Festival or Children’s Art Corner helps to guide young artists to strive in art. With this, children will get the chance to experiment with both two and three dimensional art. This festival for children will include: face painting, creating 3D ornaments, bean mosaics, and much more.
It’s possible for new artists to participate in the Fine Art Fair. Applications are accepted at the beginning of every year, and artists are judged by the technical appeal, quality of craftsmanship, diversity and style, rather than length of time. Artists of all mediums are encouraged to apply. The Peoria Art Guild also has a program called “Call for Artists” available, which is currently accepting submissions for exhibition proposals for the following: General 2014 Exhibitions, Trunk Show and Members Art Show. For artists who are interested, please email the committee at events@peoriaartguild.org.
Volunteers are more than welcome, and volunteers do not need to be artistic in order to participate. Assistance is very important to the Peoria Art Guild, having over four hundred people to help out with the fair. Volunteers receive a free T-Shirt, and those who volunteer for more than four hours are given a free pass. For more information on the Fine Art Fair or volunteer work log onto their website at: http://www.peoriaartguild.com/!/contact-us or for more information about the Peoria Art Guild visit them at http://www.peoriaartguild.org/Default.aspx