Local Artists to Converge on Downtown Aurora for Alley Art Festival

For Boulder Hill resident Mike Mathews, calling the leathersmithing he does a hobby is cringe-worthy.

“It's not a career, but I hate to say it’s a hobby,” he said. “I hate that term.”

For the last four years, Mathews has been creating renaissance period wares, masks, and roses out of leather.

“I basically do my art for myself and if people appreciate it they appreciate,” he said.

This weekend, he is looking forward to sharing his creations with the community during the second annual in Aurora.

The free event will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday on the Water Street Mall in downtown Aurora.

During the festival, local artists will converge on the pedestrian brick alley between Downer Place and Galena Boulevard to display and sell their paintings, jewelry, photography, comics and more. The Aurora Lions Club and Luigi’s Pizza will have food and ice cream available for purchase. The event will also include a children’s art tent, free yoga classes, hula-hoop instruction.

About 30 local artists participated in last year’s inaugural event.

“We had four or five local musicians and a kids tent and food vendors,” said Marissa Amoni, event organizer and a frequent contributor to Montgomery Patch. “It was just a lot of fun. People came and had a great time.”

This year, the number of participating artists has nearly doubled.

“It’s now over 50,” Amoni said. “I actually had to cut it off. People are excited about it because it’s so grassroots and community driven.”

Mathews is participating this year for the first time.

“I’m looking forward to seeing all of the other people’s art and just to have a good time,” he said.

The festival is participant-run and is what several artists and residents said they want to see in downtown Aurora, Amoni said.

Notable local musicians will perform on the lawn of the mall including Jeremy Keen (who was recently featured on the charity compilation Made in Aurora), Andrea Dawn and Blue Smoke.

Event sponsors include Amoni's Downtown Auroran Magazine, the city of Aurora and Triple Threat Mentoring.

For more information, e-mail downtownauroran@gmail.com, or visit the Alley Art Festival Facebook page.