From scarves to doorknobs, The Craft League of Champaign-Urbana has provided artists with an outlet to showcase their work at fairs for the past 42 years. 

According to event organizers, this year’s fair had 31 artists attending from various parts of Illinois, along with some out-of-state attendees. Jill Miller, an event organizer, said artists at the fair are members of the craft league.

Miller, who runs a booth for Hooey Batiks, said this year they have brought in more local artists and two artists from Missouri and Indianapolis. Each artist provides their own unique work and contributes to the overall variety at the fair.

“(The fair has) textiles, they have clay, they have photographs, glass, photos, wood, they have jewellery,” said Donna Novak, a fair attendee. “They have a great variety.”

Cammie Meerdink, who manages Piper Pottery, said the fair tries to keep a balance between new and returning artists. Meerdink said many of the members are older, and they are trying to attract a younger audience because they are an all-volunteer show. 

In terms of the fair, Miller said there is a lot of variety to look forward to. Meerdink, who has been doing the show for 10 years, said many locals are unaware of the fair. Despite this, the fair had many visitors. 

“There’s all these people in our community who make these beautiful things that you can buy for yourself or give to others,” Meerdink said.

In previous years, the fair was restricted to one of the rooms in the Savoy Recreation Center, but it has now expanded to two rooms. According to Miller, new artists go through an application process where they need to send in descriptions of their work. An outside jury looks through the applications and ranks the artists. 

The jury invites artists with the highest ranking to set up a stall at the show. Miller added that while anyone can apply, it is hard to choose artists because of the quality of the work and the amount the fair can support.

Meerdink said that many of the returning artists started back in the ’80s. 

“A lot of them are retired now, and this is for some of them, their only show or only one of two shows,” Miller said. “This is truly how they get their art out into the community.” 

Miller added that the community also gets to access “fresh art” through these fairs. The fair presents art from various media, and each stall was well-received by the community, with people lining up even before the fair started. 

Karen Fiorino, who runs Clay Lick Creek Pottery, said she has been attending the fair since it used to run in the Urbana Civic Center. She’s been travelling and attending craft fairs for 26 years and produces a wide range of products.

Because of the pandemic, Fiorino has had time to ease herself onto online platforms for her work, but she enjoys fairs because she can attend with her friends. 

Not all artists at the fair have transitioned to selling online. Jerry Rhoads, who runs Jerry Rhoads Woodturning, advertises on his website but restricts sales to fairs and customised orders.

Overall, the fair provides people with an opportunity to shop locally and foster art within the community. 

“I usually do it with my daughter,” said fair attendee Brenda Pride. “It’s a memory for us to share.”


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