Artists see a choosier crowd at Naperville art fair

Art lovers from Naperville and beyond took advantage of Saturday's pleasant weather and flocked to the 24th annual Riverwalk Fine Art Fair, hosted by the Naperville Art Leauge.

But while attendance was good, the number of purchases was down a bit, Aurora artist Anne Von Ehr said.

"You look around and you see all these people walking, but not many carrying art," Von Ehr said, adding that she'd sold a few pieces Saturday, but not as many as in past Riverwalk fairs. "I think the economy has made people a little reluctant to buy."

Elgin resident Shirley Benson said she has bought several pieces in previous years, but was being more choosy this weekend.

"Before, if I saw something I liked I'd just buy it," she said. "Today, I'm thinking a lot harder about it. But I would love to go home with something."

The annual fair continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today in downtown Naperville along the Riverwalk and Jackson Avenue. In addition to artwork from roughly 150 artists who hail from all over the country, the event will include art demonstrations and music from the DuPage Symphony.

Sunshine Artists, a monthly publication that serves the art community, just ranked the show 72nd out of the nation's top 200 art fairs.

Von Ehr, who works in pastels, has been exhibiting at the Naperville fair for six years.

"It's a great event, and I hope we get just as big a crowd tomorrow," she said.