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Art in Your Eye Prefestival Activities

Tue August 3, 2010

ART IN YOUR EYE PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                              Contact:          Britta McKenna

August 3, 2010                                                                                               Batavia MainStreet

                                                                                                                        (630) 761-3528

                                                                                                                        britta@downtownbatavia.com

ART IN YOUR EYE FEATURES MULTIPLE PRE-EVENT OPPORTUNITIES

Batavia, IL: Batavia’s Art in Your Eye Fine Arts Show & Festival is just around the corner the weekend of August 14-15, but art lovers don’t have to wait until then to rev up the art engines. Four pre-festival programs are taking place between August 4^th and August 6^th with art exhibitions leading up to the festival weekend.

First, the Batavia Public Library hosts the last of its’ Art in Your Eye library series on Wednesday, August 4^th at 7 pm at the library.  The topic is “Honor, Beauty and Tradition” and the speaker will have artifacts on display as part of the program. On his way to India, Christopher Columbus got lost and “discovered” America, a continent called Turtle Island by many of the 500 nations and 50 million people who lived here already. Experience a night of culture and traditions filled with a stunning show-and-tell: objects of art and ancient artifacts by the First Americans—the other Indians, most of whom called themselves “The People.” Presenter Ann Leslie is a stained glass artist and manages the River Trading Post, a Native American gallery, in East Dundee. She is adopted Lakota and Cherokee, and a Pipe Keeper. The presentation is free, but reservations at bataviapubliclibrary.org is recommended.

Second, Batavia MainStreet’s Art in Your Eye “Sneak Peek” is going on through Thursday, August 12^th at thirteen different locations that are featuring fourteen Art in Your Eye artists.  Below is a listing of participating businesses and the artwork they are hosting:

Third, Allen+Pepa Architects (8 W Wilson St) is hosting Greta Bell in a solo art show Friday, August 6^th from 5-9 pm.  Greta is the 2010 Art in Your Eye Fine Arts Poster artist that features ‘Bellevue’ as this year’s image.  She is signing posters at Allen+Pepa throughout the evening.  The cost of the posters is $10 with all proceeds benefitting Art in Your Eye.  The artwork of Greta Bell is on display through September 1^st at Allen+Pepa.

Fourth, Batavia MainStreet is showcasing their 2010 Batavia Photography Contest winners at Limestone Coffee and Tea (15 E. Wilson St) on Friday, August 6^th from 7-9 pm.  The winners of this digital photography contest include: 

AMATEUR CATEGORY

Grand Prize winner = Dennis Morgan, Batavia, “Challenge Factory”

Honorable Mention = Virden Von Qualen, Batavia, “The Foundation of Batavia”

Honorable Mention =  Olivia Giachino, St. Charles, “WWII POW, a Marine Veteran and Two Currently Enlisted Soldiers”

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY

Grand Prize winner:  Dennis Walz, Batavia, “Depot Museum”

Honorable Mention:  Honorable Mention = Ron Dickenson, Batavia “Fall Windmill”

Honorable Mention = Ron Dickenson, Batavia, “Summer Depot Pond”

The photographs are on display in the community room of Limestone and the ribbons are scheduled to be presented at 7:30 pm on the 6^th along with checks for $100 to the two Grand Prize winners. 

Art in Your Eye Fine Arts Show & Festival information is available at www.artinyoureye.com.  Volunteers are still needed to assist with the festival and may phone the MainStreet office at (630)761-3528 for more information or fill out the online form on the event website.

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