Festival brings art lovers to downtown Aurora

At the Alley Art Festival – Celebrating its 15th year – Occasional art lovers got involved in the artistic community on Saturday in downtown Aurora.

The Free Arts Festival presented nearly 100 artists and craftsmen from the region on the Water Street shopping center and Downer place between pedestrians between Stolp avenue and Water Street.

The event highlighted locally made art, jewelry, pottery, handmade products and more. He has doubled in size since his beginning, but remained faithful to his origins over the years, said Marissa Amoni, director of the event.

The festival focuses on the presentation only of local artists who live less than 30 miles from Aurora.

“We started with around 40 artists and now we have more than 90,” said Amoni. “We started at Water Street Mall and now we are also on Downer Place.

“It is really about supporting local art and knowing local artists and seeing how important they are for the community,” said Amoni about the festival.

The event is also an opportunity for young people to see that they can also become artists, she said.

Aurora’s ceramic artist, Collin Benson, made his first appearance at the Saturday art festival. The majority of its sandstone and porcelain pieces are in natural tones.

“I plunge my toes into the sale of my work. It’s a good adventure,” said Benson. “It’s a whole other side of being an artist. It is an excellent place to try it. ”

Benson was satisfied that a buyer picked up one of his pieces for a gift.

“I’m so happy that it will find a house,” he said.

Oletha Styles Resident of Naperville made several purchases at the festival.

“I love art so it’s a perfect day,” said Styles.

She was in love with a papier -chewed sculpture of a woman with arms extended by holding a bird. The play was created by the artist of Oswego, Ray Linden, who made his first appearance at the Alley Art Festival. The three -dimensional sculpture covered with moss and red flowers had complex facial details and a banner made of twigs.

“I have no explanation on the way I came with it. He comes out of me, “said Linden, a mixed artist, whose work includes acrylic paintings and variable sizes of mache paper sculptures.

“It’s a sculpture that is really unique,” said Styles.

“Art makes me happy,” she said. “I am particularly attracted by unique flowers and colors.”

She said that the lane art festival had a lot to offer.

“There is so much beautiful art. In addition, I like to be in downtown Aurora. There are so many beautiful places to visit, “she said, referring to traders and restaurants.

The artist of St. Charles, Kelsey Rankin, specializes in precious stone jewelry, but she also creates bands of floral crown. She has been presented at the Art Festival for six years.

“I love the artistic community in Aurora,” said Rankin about the festival. “Aurora supports independent artists, and it’s fun to meet other artists. Talent here is incredible. “

Linda Girardi is an independent journalist for Beacon-News.