Sat 6/6 & Sun 6/7
What began 32 years ago with a few artists in Chagrin Falls has evolved into a two-day, juried fine arts and contemporary crafts festival featuring 120 artists from all over the country. There will be varied artwork ranging from paintings, drawings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, sculpture and textiles. Hosted by the Valley Art Center, Art by the Falls draws around 15,000 visitors, engaging them in art, music, dancing, local cuisine, shopping, galleries and parks.
“Art lovers of all ages should come to Art by the Falls”, says Mary Ann Breisch, executive director of the Valley Art Center. “For families, there’s a children’s tent with activities and a participatory mural. For art collectors there are 120 participating artists in 15 different medias, with a range of price points to choose from. For anyone who likes to eat or be entertained, there are seven food vendors and a full stage schedule of performances on our stage. There are stilt walkers from Parade the Circle opening the event on Saturday. For music lovers, the Chagrin Arts music crawl begins at 6PM. For those who like to support no-profits, there will be a dozen non-profits sharing info about their programs, including members of the Chagrin Falls Village Arts Commission.”
Valley Art Center is a creative hub in the Chagrin Valley, dedicated to presenting, promoting and teaching the arts. Offering 400 classes to over 1400 students each year, Valley Art Center has a wide range of ways for people to engage their imaginations. Valley Art Center’s goal is to energize and encourage art appreciation in people of all ages and backgrounds through education, inspiration and opportunities to experience the arts.
“Participating artists in Art by the Falls are selected because they demonstrate a level of excellence and mastery in their work — originality, craftsmanship, design and imagination,” says Mary. “One of my favorite things about this event is the fact that so many artists prepare for so long to share their beautiful works, and that so many people come to admire and buy it for their very own. There is so much creative energy and such a cool vibe in a beautiful natural setting, next to the river in a very charming little village.”
Art By the Falls takes rain or shine Sat 10am-7pm and Sun 11am-5pm at Riverside Park in downtown Chagrin Falls. The event if free to attend. A community mural is being painted at the member tent at the front of the park. Mural artist John Donato will lead the crowd in completing a landscape of the region. The completed mural will be displayed in the local library. So stop by!