It’s the end, kind of. I like to think of it as a beginning for something else, but it will be the end of Alley Art Festival as an afternoon of local art along Water Street Mall and Downer Place on the last Saturday of August. This is the first in a series about the event.
The blurb in a local magazine isn’t wrong: “After 16 years, the Alley Art Festival takes a final bow this year on Aug. 29 at downtown Aurora’s Water Street Mall. The free event features dozens of local artists, live music, and kids’ activities.”
I was happy to see it included in the June issue of Naperville Magazine’s listing of summer art fairs. It’s just that it is so much more than two sentences. Alley Art Festival has been so many things to so many people, including me. I planned the first one with a few local artists (Jenn Byrne, Nathan Miller, and Lisa Gloria) while I was pregnant, and I nursed my infant at the inaugural festival while stationed at the info booth.
Looking back, I’m impressed with my boundless energy, but I also realize it was easier back then. Many artists set up without tents in the dappled shade from the stretched canopy of locust trees along Water Street Mall. Just over 40 artists fit nicely along the paved pedestrian walkway, and we didn’t think about insurance, security, or dump trucks.
Over the years, the festival has grown to allow for more local artists along with added food vendors, while I tried to stay true to the original vision – just a day of art and fun. The idea came out of a Downtown Aurora Arts Mixer (DAAM) event in the fall of 2009, and I was emailing others to help plan the festival by the end of that year. It was intended to be a simple event to benefit local artists as well as give a boost to downtown Aurora.
Alley Art Festival has become more than “just a day of art and fun,” however, so I asked some of the artists who have been part of the festival for much of its lifespan to share what the event has meant to them. Here are some of their thoughts in no particular order; follow along on social media for more artist stories.
Jacqueline Franco: Alley Art Fest has been about making new friends, learning new skills, and being there to witness the amazing community that Aurora has to offer. I’ve grown as an artist and came out of my shell since being a part of this experience for the last couple years. I’ve had inspiring conversations with complete strangers and made life long friends because of it. I will always treasure these memories as I continue on my art journey.
Teresa Millies: Alley Art means community. A community that has been there for many people evolving in their art and their life. I’ve gone from walking the fest with my sleeping baby strapped to my chest, hoping to apply the next year. To having a stocked tent with my teenager selling her art next to me.
Lisa Manning: Alley Art Fest has meant to me the biggest art celebration day of the year. So great that so many people from the community come out to look and shop, they are excited to be there. It’s wonderful to have one event with so many artists participating, it’s just the best.
Sonia Rivera: Whenever I sell my art at the Alley Art Festival, I feel welcomed in the atmosphere and safe. I am grateful to have found homes for my art throughout the years as my art and I have progressed and healed. I will miss showing up every year but I am grateful to say I was part of this beautiful gathering that is welcome to all and allows us to see art in so many different forms. And for me personally, it was a great achievement, a way to show my culture, and healing every time.
Kelsey Rankin: Alley Art Festival has always been a highlight of my summer. It’s pure joy – excitement, a true buzz, all around such a wonderful vibe. To experience so much unique, local art and talent in one area lights me up in a way I can’t fully explain. I’ve made so many genuine friends from this event – over the years I have gotten press opportunities from it, built community, connected with other artists whose journeys I continue to follow and cheer on — and always love to see familiar faces stop by my booth. The way the community shows up for AAF floors me every year. The crowds are big, the support is humbling, the organizers and volunteers have always given their all to make sure we have an amazing day.
Lindsey Roussel: Alley Art Fest has had a tremendous impact on my life and career as an artist. I’ve had the privilege of participating in Alley Art Fest for the last 10ish years, from when I was just starting college to now being a full time artist. Alley Art Fest was the first booth festival I ever participated in, the first show I made over $100 selling my work, and the first show that made me realize I could be a real working artist. The Aurora art scene is truly the pearl of the Fox Valley area, with Alley Art Fest being a pillar for artists to show their work at an affordable show. Every summer is a reunion for the consistent participants in the Aurora art scene, no matter how much artists grow or how much life gets in the way, Alley Art Fest is a staple show for a lot of us, we make sure to keep the last Saturday of August open so that we can be there every year. While it is sad for this to be the last year, the show will always be a part of Aurora’s legacy of supporting community art, as well as show runner Marissa, who has tirelessly spent her summers supporting artists and the community out of the kindness of her heart and love of Aurora. Thank you Alley Art Fest for showing that when people support local artists, communities thrive.
Megan Schmidt: Alley Art Fest has been a great way to meet artists and other people in the community. It’s also been the catalyst in my own creative journey and inspired my growth as an artist. From making hula hoops, to needle felting ghosts, to expanding into digital art with stickers, and prints. It’s been my favorite event of the year.
Here are art events to add to your calendar:
June 5
First Fridays, downtown Aurora
June 6 and 7
Northern Illinois Pottery Tour, northernilpotterytour.com
June 12
Second Fridays, Water Street Studios and Sturdy Shelter, Batavia
June 13
Creativity at the Crossroads, Riverfront Park, North Aurora
July 25 and 26
Geneva Arts Fair, Geneva
August 29
Alley Art Festival, Aurora.
Alleyartaurora.com
Marissa Amoni is the owner of Marissa Bright, a public relations and event management company specializing in shining the light on nonprofits and small businesses. She coordinates Alley Art Festival and Geneva Arts Fair. Follow her on Instagram @marissashinesbright.
Visit a full calendar of art events on alleyartaurora.com/artscene.