With organization and installation help from PACA’s Dan Leasure, the largest East Central Illinois art show of the year is up and ready for the public — the annual AAA art show has arrived. The show displays over 200 local artists’ work, and all proceeds go to the Greater Community AIDS Project, a non-profit Champaign-Urbana group that provides support services to people living with HIV/AIDS in our own backyard.
This year, a wide collection of art from various media was donated by artists: jewelry, t-shirts, sculptures, chairs, paintings, and many more. Usually, the trend is 50 percent of the artwork sales goes directly to GCAP. However, a few artists, like Christopher’s Fine Jewelry Design on Neil St., are giving 100 percent of their sales to the organization. Here’s just a taste of some of the artwork on display and sale this year.
Pearl necklace from Christopher’s, $175.
Sterling silver earrings, priced between $10 and $80.
Gorgeous beaded pins and necklaces, various prices.
Sculptures galore, assorted prices.
Social commentary paintings.
Similar to last year, the musical events kick off along with the grand opening. Tonight, DJ Hellcat will be spinning jammy jams from soul to rockabilly. On Saturday, from 2 to 2:30 p.m., the brilliant lesbian/feminist chorus, AMASONG, will perform. AMASONG is an award-winning amateur local chorus group and definitely a can’t-miss performance.The women’s voices will amaze you. DJ Mertz will be taking over the turntables between 3 and 5 p.m., and the day’s events will be wrapped up by Desafinado from 7 to 9 p.m. Finally, on Sunday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., DJ Mertz returns, and from 4 to 6 p.m. harpist Leila Ramagopal taking the stage.
And it goes without saying, of course, that a bowl of LifeStyles condoms will be in attendance at the event. They are free and plentiful. So, spread the word about Artists Against AIDS, not the disease.
The Orpheum Children’s Science Museum is located at 346 N Neil St. in downtown Champaign. The hours for the show are as follows:
- Tonight, Friday April 24 from 6 to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, April 25 from 1 to 10 p.m.
- Sunday, April 26 from 1 to 7 p.m.
- Monday, April 27 from 1 to 7 p.m.