Edgewater Fall Art Fair
September 28-29
11am – 6pm
Granville Ave. at Broadway (Granville stop on the CTA L Red Line)
www.edgewateratists.com
Facebook: edgewaterartistsinmotion
Twitter: @EdgewaterArtist
Edgewater Artists in Motion, a community organization made up of artists and art lovers, is gearing up to host the first Edgewater Fall Art Fair on September 28-29, with the support of 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman and the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce. The Fair is going to be the biggest arts event the neighborhood has ever seen; a true 360° celebration of creative talent that has been included as one of the “opening acts” for this year’s Chicago Artists Month.
The Edgewater Fall Art Fair is not your typical art festival because it is a project conceived and managed from A to Z by a group of passionate Edgewater residents to bring the community together in an unprecedented way. There is no big event planning company involved; no big corporate sponsors. The financial support for the event has come exclusively from small local businesses and generous private citizens.
The Fair is “a labor of love by artists, art lovers, and Edgewater residents for all those who appreciate the arts, enjoy community life, and like to discover the hidden treasures Chicago can offer”, says Edgewater Artists in Motion’s Founder, Rae Ann Cecrle. One of the goals of the Fair is also to let more people know about Edgewater and what it has to offer. It is a neighborhood that often flies under the radar, surrounded by more well known destinations like Andersonville, Rogers Park, Uptown, and the lake. “Edgewater is a wonderfully diverse, resilient, and creative community which is very much like art; you have to explore its many layers to truly understand it”, continues Rae Ann Cecrle. “And there is no better way to discover the spirit of Edgewater than through art…which is why the neighborhood has come together to organize this exciting Fair and show Chicagoans what it’s made of.”
Edgewater Artists in Motion has been working since 2009 to spotlight the creative talent of the neighborhood and use the arts to promote the community as an artistic destination, while helping local businesses grow. This is its biggest endeavor to date.
The 2-day event will feature 65 talented local artists working in photography, painting, printing, hand-made jewelry, pottery, and mixed media. Live music will fill the street, with 12 bands and solo musicians of different ages and cultural backgrounds performing on two stages and ranging from jazz, blues and rock to Latin rhythms, electronica and Afrobeat funk.
As a family-friendly event, the Fair will have a Children’s Activities Corner to keep the younger attendees (age 1 to 12) entertained.
Several special events will complement the artists’ works on display.
CALM Skincare’s Fall Fashion Runway Show
Presented by Blue Buddha Boutique
Featuring new collections by 8 Chicago designers and CALM eco-friendly makeup
Saturday, Sept. 28 (2-3pm)
Edgewater Young Artists Gallery and Parade
Presented by State Senator Heather Steans
Showing artworks by students of Hayt Elementary School, Peirce School of International Studies, Senn High School, and Swift Elementary School
Gallery open throughout the Fair
Artworks Parade on Saturday, Sept. 28 (3:15-3:45pm)
Children’s Music Talent Showcase
Featuring Edgewater elementary school-age kids performing solo or in small groups in a variety of genres Sunday, Sept. 29 (12-2pm)
Costume Pet Parade & Costume Contest
Presented by Pet Portraiture and Arya Bhavan Vegan Indian Restaurant
Sunday, Sept. 29 (Parade starts at 2:15pm followed by the Contest at 3pm)
All these events will be accompanied by Edgewater’s resident young musician, Steven Solomon, a winner of the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Wang Mentorship Award who had his Carnegie Hall debut in May 2010.
Edgewater Lighthouses Public Art Project
Presented by The ABL Group
A group of diverse artists have “re-purposed” pre-existing, 5’-tall wooden lighthouses on occasion of the Edgewater Fall Art Fair. The lighthouses will then be auctioned off at a special event in October. The money raised will be split 50-50 between the artists and Edgewater Artists in Motion, to start a fund for a community mural. The lighthouses were originally created in 2010 for the 50th Anniversary of the Edgewater Community Council.
Beer Garden
Presented by local establishments, The Pumping Company and M. Henrietta
Food, drinks, and live music
Friday night, Sept. 27 (6-10pm – featuring the Artists Party open to the public)
Saturday, Sept. 28 (11am-10pm) – from 7 to 10pm: “Neighborhood” Party with music from Edgewater Fall Art Fair “musician in residence”, Steve Solomon
Sunday, Sept. 29 (11am-6pm)
Sponsors of the Fair include Special Service Area 26, Loyola University, and the Ruth Page School of Dance.
Admission: Suggested $5 donation
For more about the Edgewater Fall Art Fair: http://edgewaterartists.com/edgewater-fall-art-fair