Colchester, IL – Colchester's Second Annual Arts Festival drew about 20 artists. In addition, a couple of bands performed throughout the day during the event in the downtown business district.
The festival was organized by the Colchester Art Club. The idea is to promote the town's businesses and to help artists sell their work.
Organizers say they will never charge a fee for artists to participate. The club's Barb McEntyre says it's important to encourage all artists, including professionals, amateurs, and children, to show their work.
Club member Patricia Nelson displayed silk screen prints of old buildings in Colchester, some of which no longer exist. She became interested in silk screen printing after seeing it demonstrated at the arts festival in Rushville.
Club member Daniel Blaesing hopes the festival will continue to be an annual event and he hopes to see it grow. Blaesing displayed wood burn portraits. He's opening an art studio and business in Macomb to sell his work.
Additional information:
*Much of the work was by artists from western Illinois, but some of it came from as far away as Nigeria. The African art was done by Ibiyinka Olufemi Alao. The Art Ambassador from Nigeria was invited to the region earlier this year by WIU's African-American Studies Department.
*Alao uses his colorful prints and murals to tell stories. He tries to use his art to encourage people to live together in harmony, no matter their skin color or language.
*Alao says he's been painting for as long as he can remember. He became more prolific around the age of 20 (he's now in his early 30s), when he began to develop his painting personality.
*You can listen to an interview with Alao by clicking on the audio button.