Fresh perspectives in the fresh air, at Batavia arts fest
Who needs the air-conditioned climate of a museum when you can enjoy art out in the fresh air while munching on a slice of pizza or a chicken tostada?
The 11th annual Art in Your Eye festival continued Saturday in Batavia.
Amiable artists such as Maggie Joyce of Chicago explained their works. It was her second time exhibiting at Art In Your Eye. Recycled optical lenses, such as those from eyeglasses, are her medium.
"I'm a painter, so I like color," she said of the buttons, earrings and necklaces she creates.
Joyce started in the late 1980s after seeing lenses, including some that had been dyed, her eye doctor was going to discard.
"Gee, I could maybe try dying them," Joyce said she thought.
Now, she cuts the lenses, etches them to obtain a frosted surface and dyes them.
Visitors viewed the wares of artists from throughout Illinois. They also took in the juried City Hall Art Exhibit contest, with dozens of paintings, photographs and sculptures.
Children made sculptures out of painted cardboard boxes and threw clay pots.
People enjoyed Geneva-based Penrose Brewing Co.'s beverages in a beer tent while listening to musicians perform from the stage of the Peg Bond Center.
The event continues from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Riverwalk, Houston Street and Island Avenue, in downtown Batavia.
The festival is run by the Batavia MainStreet organization.
For more information, visit artinyoureye.com.