Saturday promised to be another scorcher, so I wrangled a few friends and headed out early to the 2022 Crystal Lake Park Art Fair. Much had changed (for the better) since my last visit. There were more parking options. Co-hosts 40 North and the Urbana Park District arranged for free golf cart rides to the entrance. Our driver couldn’t have been nice,r and the breeze was fantastic. The number of booths and the range of formats had grown. UrVana had crafts and lawn games to keep younger visitors engaged. There was a steady stream of subjects at caricaturist Dan Wild’s tent. It did my heart good to see so many art fans engaging with artists. And to see so many of them leave with bags of unique treasures. What follows is a visual diary of my Saturday at the fair.
Dan Wild beginning a caricature of a young visitor.
Photo by Debra Domal.
Jill Miller of Hooey Batiks showcased her new typewriter design.
Photo by Debra Domal.
Ceramic artist Howie Schein’s booth integrated the outdoor vibe into his display.
Photo by Debra Domal.
This face drawing me back to the Cindy Sampson’s booth.
Photo by Debra Domal.
Freya Replinger’s photos shone in the sunlight and were set off beautifully by the grass.
Photo by Debra Domal.
New work in 3D by Gregory Stallmeyer and Carol Alison were masterpieces of color, texture, and shape.
Photo by Debra Domal.
Fabrikate’s display was filled with fun new fabric choices.
Photo by Debra Domal.
Pipapo displayed a garden of handpainted flowers along with new earring designs.
Photo by Debra Domal.
Fire Doll Studio’s delicious candles were a big hit with visitors.
Photo by Debra Domal.
Liza Wynette’s ceramics featured a range of lovely floral patterns.
Photo by Debra Domal.
Red Ember Forge showcased several new designs among their reclaimed metal jewelry line.
Photo by Debra Domal.
Gathered Illusions displayed an array of multicolored glass pumpkins
Photo by Debra Domal.
Kim Caisse’s tent was filled with her fantastic handpainted creatures.
Photo by Debra Domal.
Kara Lovell’s ceramics featured rich hued glazes and bold design patterns.
Photo by Debra Domal.
One of the true stars of the show was this adorable Samoyed, whose sweet fluffy face made everyone smile.
Photo by Debra Domal.
Kudos to 40 North and the Urbana Park District for continuing to grow this event and for taking such good care of its artists. Volunteers consistently checked in to make sure they were getting shade and staying hydrated during this dog day of August. To find out more about this year’s participating artists, click here.
Crystal Lake Park Art Fair
August 6th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Crystal Lake Park
1505 N Broadway,
Urbana