Naperville art fair one of nation's best

At a time when art may be considered a luxury some can't afford, the Naperville Art League's Riverwalk Fine Art Fair continues to receive high marks from artists and patrons alike.

Just in time for this weekend's 24th annual fair, organizers learned the show was ranked 72nd out of the nation's top 200 art fairs by Sunshine Artists, a monthly publication that serves artists and art lovers.

Roughly 150 artists from all over the country will line the Riverwalk and Jackson Avenue in downtown Naperville from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19 and Sept. 20, for the juried show.

"The grapevine within the artist community is a huge network," said Debbie Venezia, executive director of the Naperville Art League and of the show. "If you have a good show or a bad show other artists will hear about it, so you want to perpetuate something positive. One of the things (people like) is the setting and the paved walkway. It's very scenic and peaceful."

This year's judges are Sandra Adams, Marie Gnesda, Stephanie Grow and George Shipperley.

Naperville Art League organizers say they like to go above and beyond for the artists because they know its challenging to both create quality artwork and travel to shows.

"Through the years the Riverwalk has built up a reputation that we're attracting some of the best artists in the country and each one of these things feeds into the other," Venezia said. "The artists want to be here. There's a synergy going on, based on setting and reputation."

In addition to the artwork, the DuPage Symphony performs throughout the weekend.

"Arts and music enhance each other," Venezia said. "You can either sit down in the pavilion and listen to the concert itself or when you're walking around you can hear this beautiful music while looking at artwork."

The VAllegro!!! Group will play violins to a choreographed dance. A lineup of demonstrations will include clay work.

Naperville artist and art teacher Pamela J. Hart will be one of those displaying her works this weekend.

"They have a really good quality of artists and a nice mix of media," Hart said. "You can walk the whole show to see what you want to buy, and it's a nice pattern of foot traffic so you don't forget where your artist is that you want."

Hart paints landscapes with a technique of using oils that build up transparent and semitransparent layers of glaze that gives a reflective luminescent surface underneath to make the color that much more vibrant.

Although the economic downturn has hurt artists, she said many have learned to adapt and overcome.

For Hart, that's meant focusing more on the production of her Alla Prima paintings, which don't involve her signature technique and are significantly less expensive.

Venezia said people from the Naperville area have always supported the arts.

"The setting is wonderful. It's beautiful," Venezia said. "We generally get beautiful weather. The leaves are just beginning to change and it's not too hot."

For information about the fair, call Venezia at the Naperville Art League at (630) 355-3071 or visit napervilleartleague.com.

If you go

What: Riverwalk Fine Art Fair

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19 and 20

Where: Riverwalk and Jackson Avenue in downtown Naperville

Info: (630) 355-3071 or napervilleartleague.com

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