After rain took center stage at Crystal Lake Arts Fair, I was hopeful that West Side Arts wouldn’t suffer the same fate. Luckily, the weather was perfect for the second year of this juried art fair hosted by 40 North and Champaign Park District. Held at West Side Park, this year’s fair featured 26 artists representing a range of art forms: ceramics, mixed media, photography, painting, illustration, woodworking, jewelry, fiber, and glass. While there were some familiar faces from Crystal Lake Arts Fair and other art events in Champaign-Urbana, there were several new-to-me artists as well.
I was pleasantly surprised by how kid-friendly the event was. The fair had huge inflatable slides, face painting, a balloon artist, a painting craft, sidewalk chalk contest, and a bubble tent set up for the kids to enjoy. Only the sidewalk chalk contest was advertised ahead of time, to my knowledge, and even that wasn’t mentioned on the Facebook event page. They really kept the focus in the promotions, deliberately it seems, on the art, which makes sense. Even still, I think advertising these additional draws may bring in more families who may otherwise be nervous about taking their kids to an event filled with art.
There were also two food trucks on site: Burrito King and Garro’s Taste of the City (winner of our Best new food truck in 2022). I got the King Nachos from Burrito King, an always favorite. There were plenty of people enjoying the food on the many benches, at the playground, and even laying out in the grass. It was really a picturesque gathering. Regrettably, my nachos were enjoyed in the car thanks to an over-tired toddler meltdown (parents can relate).
The main draw, of course, was the art. Fraya Replinger was showcasing her beautiful photography. Current Artist of the corridor Anna Gutsch’s jewelry brand Pipapo was also present.
One of the new-to-me artists was Barry Callahan of ARaisedBanner. He had this cool double sided painting that spun on an axis. You can see the video of it in action on his Instagram. He also had mixed media skateboards and canvases.
Allie Janae was present with her glass pieces. I especially loved the middle hanging piece that featured a cute dinosaur.
I’ve been following Sara Jahn since I saw her skull paintings at Crystal Lake Arts Fair. I loved this new piece she brought, appropriately titled A Cause for Celebration. She frequently posts progress updates of what she is working on on her Instagram, if you want to see the many layers involved with a piece like this coming together.
I was especially excited to finally get a chance to see High in Fiber Rugs in person. Brittany Heyen’s creations are very cute and very creative. Keep an eye out for an interview with Heyen later this week.
Overall this was a well-organized and well-attended event. The art was showcased and front and center, but the additional activities for kids, combined with the superb weather and great location really brought this art fair to the next level. I’m already looking forward to next year. Check out some more photos from the event below.
