By Erin Hayes

Gargoyle staff reporter

Posted Monday, April 23, 2007, The OG, arts & features

IN THE WORDS of Edie Brickell, I'm not aware of too many things, but I know what I know … if you know what I mean. And what I know is this: Not only is Champaign-Urbana's artistic community alive and well, but our entire population is connected through our city's arts, as demonstrated by this year's Boneyard Arts Festival.

How do I know this? Empirical data, of course. Over time, I've gained a certain degree of experience with the arts in this town, initially through taking summer art classes at the University of Illinois' School of Art and Design (which I have done for more than 10 years now), and later through museum visits, concerts, plays, music festivals, and the like.

Eventually, I came to realize that art is all around us in C-U. It's impossible to escape it. Walk through the streets of Urbana on a Saturday morning, and you will probably come across the Market at the Square, filled with craftsmen of all types selling everything from paintings to pottery to jewelry (not to mention the busking local musicians such as the idiosyncratic Michael Powers, or my middle school friends Nathaniel Ruiz and Emma Fell).

Walk through the streets of downtown Champaign, and the effect of our local artists is even more obvious. Almost every alley or blank wall space you pass displays a colorful mural or more spontaneous graffiti. Take a step into Café Kopi or Aroma Café, and you will more than likely be faced with an exhibit of some local artist's works. Radio Maria, a fusion restaurant located in downtown, was even founded by artists, and the interior reeks of their creative spirits (using decorated doors as tables and displaying unique mixed-media pieces on the walls).

My point, I suppose, is that whether you're a fan of Of Montreal (who are signed to the Champaign-Urbana record label Polyvinyl), a scenester who catches all the shows of the 217 Crew, or a Joe Schmoe simply tottering along the streets, you're bound to verify the slogan of 40 North/88 West (the organization that put together the Boneyard Arts Festival): “Art Lives Here.”

In fact, my experience with this year's Boneyard Arts Festival began entirely on accident, but still managed to connect me to the larger community in more ways than one.

On Friday, I was walking from my car to join the march for Take Back The Night (an internationally organized protest against sexual assault) when I came across a stage planted in the middle of Chester Street. There were a couple of musicians from Edison Middle School's jazz band playing, and as I was walking by, I stumbled upon Ben Valocchi, an old buddy of mine from middle school whom I hadn't seen since 2003. There's example No. 1.

The next evening, I actively sought out manifestations of the festival. My first stop was the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, for the second annual Prison Arts Festival (a subfest of this year's Boneyard). I was surprised to find Uni students Shara Esbenshade and Kimmy Pillow sitting on the steps outside as I drove up, and quickly joined them and went inside. There's example No. 2.

I was even more astounded at what I found inside. There was a DJ spinning, and the stage was lit up with red and purple lights, occupied by four Urbana High School students whom I used to attend school with. One of them was Nick Lyles, a pretty close junior high friend whom I see around every now and then. As soon as he dismounted the stage, I approached and greeted him with a heartfelt embrace. There's example No. 3.

While I was quite impressed with the student rappers (the shortest one, Kenny Davis, can be seen rhyming rapidly like Eyedea about halfway through the video above), what struck me the most about the situation was the fact that it was my peers onstage at a serious artistic showcase. Saturday's event is one of the first clear pieces of evidence I've gotten of the impending generation shift in C-U's art and music scene, and I'm sure moments like it will only become more and more frequent as I continue my career at Uni.

When the rap show finished and the break dancing began, I left the dance floor to the experts and retreated to observe the art hanging on the walls. All of it (including the pieces shown below) was created by incarcerated community members, and I found it truly moving that some local prisoners are able persevere in spirit and create beautiful things, despite their situation.

Clockwise from top left: “Marvin,” “Miles,” “Bob,” and “Ray,” all by Christopher A. Garner I.

After I left the Prison Arts Festival, I headed over to downtown Champaign to enjoy some of the visual art that was available there. When I entered Kopi, I was pleased to see a fresh exhibit of abstract acrylics by Alex Garcia. After I had observed them for a time, allowing my Americano to cool sufficiently, I departed, and as I was leaving I noticed Tatyana Safronova (editor-in-chief of The Buzz) sitting at one of Kopi's sidewalk tables, chatting it up with some friends. BAM! Example No. 4.

I sauntered over to Aroma, and while I spent a very brief time there before heading home (and was a little less than impressed by their offering of watercolors by Shoshannah Bauer), I still enjoyed seeing the art and the turnout of townspeople.

Sunday saw my final encounter with 2007's Boneyard Arts Festival, and while the experience was uneventful in itself, it was indicative of the community-joining that I have been trying to emphasize.

After an appointment with my math tutor, I dropped in at Exile On Main St., my favorite record store, to try and catch the end of Ryan Groff's solo performance there. Unfortunately, I got there after he had finished his set, but he was still chilling inside with several artsy twentysomethings, including Mike Ingram, a local acoustic folk artist (and expert on the local music scene for The Buzz). There's example No. 5.

The thing of it is, even though I was undeniably disappointed to have missed Ryan's set, the nature of the situation offered a dignified close to the festival: Even though the main events were over, the artists were still mingling among themselves and among the general shopgoing residents.

And that's what I think the festival is all about. It's like throwing a party to help people get aquainted. “Artists, meet Populace. Populace, these are Artists.” And it all goes from there.

RELATED

— 40 North/88 West: 2007 Boneyard Arts Festival

— Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center: 2007 Prison Arts Festival