Art in the Park

Bekki Canine creates a new painting
URBANA - Painter Bekki Canine paints a new piece between visitors to her booth at the Crystal Lake Art Fair on Saturday. The two-day event featured 40 artists from around the local area and beyond. Canine earned her BFA at Illinois Wesleyan and holds an MA in Art Education from the University of Illinois. The Villa Grove native has taught art classes from kindergarten to college-level coursework. Her paintings and note cards are available on her website.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
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Crystal Lake Park Art Fair this Saturday and Sunday

URBANA - Over 40 artists are expected to display their artwork and wares at the 6th Annual Crystal Lake Park Art Fair this Saturday and Sunday. The two-day event held at Crystal Lake Park is a collaborative organizational effort between 40 North and the Urbana Park District.

The art fair will be open from 10 am to 4 pm on both days. Vendor booths will be located along the park road adjacent to the Lake House and the large pavilion. Local and regional artists will be offering paintings, textiles, ceramics, photography, jewelry, glass, mixed media, and more for sale.

Featured artists include Champaign native Megan Hinds, an alumna of Illinois State University, where she specialized in printmaking. She graduated with magna cum laude honors in 2016, and her work has been exhibited at the Jan Brandt Gallery, Joe McCauley Gallery, Heartland Community College, 40North Gallery, Spudnik Press Cooperative's Annex Gallery, The Art Center, and Lincoln Land Community College. Recently, her artwork was awarded the Best-Emerging Artist award at the Ann Arbor Art Festival in 2019, the Best 2-D Artist award at the Naperville Fine Art Festival, and the Best Printmaker award at the Deer Park Art Festival.

If you're someone who loves the romantic side of life and is looking for artwork that reflects that passion, you might be interested in the work of Melanie Sartori. She is a self-taught artist and muralist based in Madison, WI, drawing inspiration from vintage items, travel, and adventure. Melanie often uses locally collected vintage and antique frames to create one-of-a-kind paintings, using the frames as a starting point for her creativity and to infuse her work with a sense of history and sustainability. Additionally, she creates unique jewelry collections as part of her commissioned work.

Cammie Meerdink, the artist known for her visionary work at Piper Pottery & Crafts in Mahomet, has been creating stunning and practical clay pieces for more than two decades. Her process involves incorporating natural elements, vintage artifacts, and contemporary influences to produce singular stoneware pieces. Meerdink has gained recognition in artistic communities for her imaginative and utilitarian pottery designed for both home and garden use.


2024 Crystal Lake Park Art Fair Artists

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Urbana Park District hosting high school basketball tournament

URBANA - The Urbana Park District is sponsoring a seven-week basketball tournament for high school age students starting March 26. There is no registration fee and trophies will be awarded at the end of the 14-game open gym schedule.

Games will be played at Brookens Gym from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Teams can play in one or on all 14 dates.

For more information, email Joe Manning at jamanning@urbanaparks.org or call (217) 368-1544.


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Urbana Park District Toddler Art Play Group starts tomorrow

URBANA - The Urbana Park District is hosting a free event for toddlers at the Phillips Recreation Center at 505 W. Stoughton tomorrow between 9 - 11 a.m.

The Toddler Art Play Group is for children ages one to four. Children must be accompanied by a parent or adult. Participants can show up at any time. Each session will explore and create various art projects.

The group is an opportunity for parents and children to socialize, network with others, and make new friends.

The group will meet on seven other dates through April. The next group will meet on January 25.

No registration is needed. For more information, call (217) 367-1544 or visit the UPD website here.

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Urbana Park District summer theater auditions April 22-23

URBANA -- Tryouts for the Urbana Park District's summer theater program will be April 22-23. This year's musical production of Newsies, will be performed at Parkland College for four days starting on July 21.

Performers between the ages of 6 and 20 are welcome to sign up for auditions. Youth actors with dance and tumbling experience are strongly encouraged to audition for a role. Auditions for soloists and members of the ensemble will be separate.

Soloists will need to bring a song to sing. An accompanist will be available for those who bring sheet music. Children will perform their numbers and dance in small groups for one hour during the audition for their role.

Rehearsals are scheduled Monday through Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the Phillips Recreation Center in Urbana. An additional session will be held on Fridays after the first several weeks of practice.

For more information on next week's auditions or to sign up online, follow this link.

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Crystal Lake pool to open for summer fun in May, indoor aquatic center will close temporarily

URBANA -- The Urbana Park District will open the Crystal Lake Park Family Aquatic Center starting Memorial Day, May 30. The outdoor swimming pool and the aquatic park will be open through Labor Day in September.

Meanwhile, the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center will be closed from May 27 through September 5. Operating one swim facility during the summer put less strain on the district's resources and staffing needs.

The outdoor schedule will operate as follows:

Monday – Friday
6 AM – 8 AM Lap Swim/Water Aerobics
8 AM – 11 AM Programming (Nadiators, Swim Lessons, Aerobics, etc.)
11 AM – 12 PM Lap Swim/Water Aerobics
12PM – 12:30 PM Member Early Entry
12:30PM – 7 PM Open Swim

Saturday
9 AM – 11 AM Programming (Nadiators, Swim Lessons, etc.)
11 AM – 7 PM Open Swim

Sunday
11 AM – 7 PM Open Swim

"Urbana School District owns UIAC and the Urbana Park District operates it. It takes a great deal of support from both entities to make sure it is operating efficiently, safely, and fiscally responsible," said Leslie Radice, Aquatic Manager.

For people who have already paid for indoor pool memberships or have a credit balance, memberships can be transferred to the outdoor pool at 1401 N. Broadway. Members also can suspend their membership until the indoor pool opens again or receive a refund for the unused balance of the membership.

Radice recommends calling the park district office at (217) 367-1544 to discuss or adjust memberships.

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Urbana Park District to host Galentine's Day wine tasting

The Urbana Park District will host a Galentine's Party from 6-8pm on February 10 at the Phillips Recreation Center.

Chef Leah Bodine from Blue Dragonfly Catering will be on hand to discuss wine pairing and share samples of some of her dishes. A self-taught chef, Bodine caters to private parties, business events, and weddings. She has also lent her cooking talents preparing dishes for famous recording artists and groups on-tour like REO Speedwagon, Styx, Lyle Lovett, ZZ Top, and Chicago.

There will be at least three different wines to sample and guests must be at least 21-years of age to attend the event. The party will be held in the James Room Kitchen and participation is limited to 21 guests.

The park district is currently offering an early bird registration discount of $38 for residents and $57 for non-residents if completed by January 27. After the deadline admission will be $48 for Urbana residents and $72 for those who reside outside the district.

Participants can register online here or call (217) 367-1544.

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