Batavia's Riverwalk home to Art in Your Eye festival
Take a stroll along Batavia's Riverwalk this weekend and see one-of-a-kind paintings, handcrafted sculptures and eye-catching ceramics.
The sixth annual Art In Your Eye Festival, running Saturday, Aug. 14, and Sunday, Aug. 15, will bring local and faraway artistic genius to one location for residents to enjoy.
Seventy-five artists, from as far as Arizona and as close as Batavia, had pieces chosen through the rigorous judging process for display in this year's show. Event organizers - including Batavia's MainStreet, park district and public library - hope to dazzle festival goers with only the best artwork for a truly cultured experience.
"(The judges) are instructed to look for impact, appeal, quality, technique and booth presentation," said Art Director Erin Melloy. "It's just the best who get invited in. We try to balance by media, but it usually works out pretty well."
Festival admission is free, and, rain or shine, patrons can see oil paintings, jewelry, wood carvings, sculptures, glass pieces, ceramics and more - a little bit of everything, Melloy said.
And while the art promises to be unique, the festival's atmosphere hopes to be as well. You will not find the traditional hectic festival feel at Art In Your Eye.
"It just has a different tone," Batavia MainStreet's Britta McKenna said. "It's a much more relaxed nature. It's a little more refined and slower paced."
Throughout the two days, art demonstrations will take place, bands will continuously perform and several different art displays will be set up, including a photographer display in the Depot Museum.
Artists will be sitting at their booths along the Riverwalk hoping to sell pieces and educate passers-by on their technique and creative process.
"In order for this event to succeed, we need people to come to it," Melloy said. "You don't necessarily have to buy anything, but a show of support by being there makes all the difference in the success of an event like this."
Food also will be available, but don't expect to see any cotton candy or funnel cakes. Rather, festival organizers have enlisted the services of Enticing Cuisine in Batavia to provide catering throughout the two days. By having one local food vendor and ending the festival at 5 p.m., McKenna said she hopes people will be encouraged to eat in the various downtown restaurants available within walking distance to the Riverwalk.
Patrons can sip on free water throughout the day, and city hall will be open for rest and cooling breaks.
The event also will include a display of all local artists at city hall, children's activities in the Peg Bond Center, the Student Legacy Project exhibit of high school and college artists' works, and the sale of all the yearly promotional Art In Your Eye posters.
Gretta Bell designed this year's poster, which sells for $10. All six can be purchased for $50.
But the main strength of the festival goes to the more than 100 local volunteers who are crucial to its success.
"I find it really fascinating working with a group of volunteers who bring such energy and creative ideas every meeting," Melloy said. "Their excitement trickles down into the festival."
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<li><a href="/story/?id=399843">Artists put miniatures on display in Batavia<span class="date">[08/12/10]</span></a></li>
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<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>
<p class="News"><b>What:</b> The sixth annual Art In Your Eye fine arts festival</p>
<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15</p>
<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Batavia Riverwalk at Houston Street and Island Avenue in downtown Batavia</p>
<p class="News"><b>Admission:</b> Free; food will be for sale by Enticing Cuisine of Batavia</p>
<p class="News"><b>Details:</b> <a href="http://artinyoureye.com" target="new">artinyoureye.com</a></p>