Seven local artists were recognized for their art in the Sky Art Peoria Program from ArtsPartners of Central Illinois, with cooperation from Adams Outdoor Advertising.

Judged according to artistic and technical merits, and visual appeal, were five artists in the adult division: Jeremy Berkley, “Grand View,” Brandie Centi-Fislar, “Enlightenment Bold,” Fletcher Koehrsen, “Fading Light,” Cyndi Merrill, “A Lot of Pots,” and Richard Wehrs, “Making Faces at the World 2.”

Honored in the student division were: Namratha Dinesh, “Mushrooms” and Ahran Pande, “Be Happy.”

“As a program under Arts Partners, Sky Art strives to elevate and celebrate the creativity fostered in central Illinois,” commented Sky Art Peoria committee chair Everley Davis. “One goal the committee shares is to help diversify the program by making artists of all ages aware of the program throughout Peoria, Woodford and Tazewell counties and encouraging all mediums to enter.

“We are proud that the 2024 winners include representation in cities and towns throughout the counties, with a range of art mediums like ceramics, glass, sculpture, and digital art seen high in the sky.”

Winning selections will be reproduced on 48- x 14-inch vinyls that will then be installed and rotated on five Adams Outdoor billboards for one year in locations throughout Greater Peoria.

The Sky Art Peoria jury included leaders in the arts, business and community.

Program sponsors include: Miller, Hall & Triggs LLC and Joshua D. Herman, General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport, Sam & Hiral Hudson, and the Fine Arts Society of Peoria. Sky Art Peoria is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. — Bill Knight