Watershed Illustrated

“Fishing Along Sager Creek” is one of Julie Hayes’ works in oil.
“Fishing Along Sager Creek” is one of Julie Hayes’ works in oil.

Like the beauty of the watershed for which it is named, the Illinois River Salon hasn't gotten as much attention as it deserved in the five years it has existed -- until now. This fall, the juried show -- which includes more than 60 works by more than 40 artists -- moves from being a relatively small part of the annual Illinois River Watershed conference to standing on its own as a relatively large exhibition at Art Ventures in Fayetteville.

"We're really excited that this year we're in a venue that's more accessible to the public," says Julie Gowing Hayes, president of the Heart of America Artists Association, which works in cooperation with the Illinois River Watershed Project to host the show. The salon was previously held at the Illinois River Watershed Sanctuary and Learning Center in Cave Springs.

FAQ

Illinois River Salon

WHEN — Through Nov. 26

WHERE — Art Ventures in downtown Fayetteville

COST — Free; artwork is for sale

INFO — Email juliehayesart@gmail…

BONUS — A reception and awards presentation is set for 6-8 p.m. Nov. 16.

The Illinois River Salon was begun in 2013 to bring awareness to the beauty of the Illinois River Watershed, Hayes explains.

"For the first few years, I thought everything I painted had to show water," she muses, "but if you stop and think about what a watershed is, it includes everything within that watershed. My whole goal is to help people see the beauty I see."

-- Becca Martin-Brown

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NAN What's Up on 11/12/2017

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