Aurora ArtWalk announces winners

Cultural Creatives Inc., producers of the Aurora ArtWalk, “A Work in Progress” in early June, have announced the winners of the juried exhibit along with the People’s Choice award winner.

The Sue Vos Memorial Award for Best Visual Artist, which carries a prize of $300, was given to digital artist Casey Kotas of Chicago, with Andrea Dawn of Aurora receiving a $300 cash prize for Best Performance Artist.

The People’s Choice Award, also known as the Weber Award, a traveling trophy given to the artist or performer who received the most votes from attendees, was presented to photographer Mary Rodriguez of Aurora. In addition to receiving the traveling trophy, Rodriguez will be the featured exhibitor in the Paramount Theatre Grand Gallery during the months of August and September.

The seventh Aurora ArtWalk saw record attendance of more than 1,000 visitors, and included 12 participating venues, each featuring a combination of music, performance art, visual arts, exhibits and light refreshments.

The intersection of Stolp Avenue and Downer Place was a hub of activity where chalk artist Shaun Hays created a one-of-a-kind, 3-D mural; the Aurora 88’s put on a roller-derby demonstration; and Real Women Belly dancers entertained the crowd. Buckets of chalk were strategically placed for visitors to create their own masterpieces on the downtown streets right alongside the pros.

This free event made for a fun, family evening filled with entertainment and gorgeous art for sale spanning many mediums. Nearly 50 artists exhibited and performed.

The event was judged by Jim Corti, artistic director of the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, and Maureen Gasek, owner of Epsilon Design.

For information on the Aurora ArtWalk, visit www.AuroraArtWalk.com