Gold Coast Art Fair erased from River North

Annual event created conflict with residents and merchants, says Alderman

10-Mar-10 – An announcement last night by 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly that the Gold Coast Art Fair would no longer be held in River North was greeted with applause.

“I’m excited about that, too,” said Reilly.

After about 30 years in River North, the annual art festival, that showcases the work of about 350 artists each year, was not invited back. The fair will open in August at Butler Field in Grant Park.

“River North has changed dramatically in 30 years and the fair has continued to grow,” said Reilly at a community meeting of the River North Residents Association. The fair, he says, was creating conflict with residents and merchants, blocking driveways and interfering with deliveries to businesses.

“Gallery owners had their gallery spaces being obstructed by ‘porta-potties’ and itinerant vendors from Wisconsin and Iowa [were] selling their wares in front of a standing art gallery.” (Left) Gold Coast Art Fair, an annual event in River North for about 30 years, until this year, photographed in 2008 by flickr user yuan2003.

Reilly says he decided the fair was no longer a good fit for River North after last year’s fair. He says he spent four hours one day just helping police and city transportation employees move barricades and reconfigure the site.

“I spent countless hours with the 18th police district and the [Chicago] Department of Transportation, OEMC [Office of Emergency Management and Communications], trying to find a way to make these folks fit. End of the day, we simply couldn’t justify it.”

The company that produces the Gold Coast Art Fair is making the best of the decision. Amy Amdur, president of Amdur Productions said in late February that the new Grant Park location “is larger and offers more artists the opportunity to showcase and sell their work.”

Various news media accounts estimate the crowds at the art fair at 500,000 to 800,000 people. The fair is one of the top 20 art festivals in the U.S., according to Amdur Productions, and the third oldest, going into its 53rd year.

(Above) 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly (left) shakes hands with RNRA event coordinator Larry Janus. Reilly spoke Tuesday evening at the River North Residents Association Community Meeting, held at English Bar & Restaurant on North LaSalle Boulevard.

Reilly also spoke about the City of Chicago budget, a sting operation to crack down on loud motorcycles, aggressive panhandlers, improved lighting on residential streets, improvements to L tracks along Franklin Street, new playground equipment in Erie Park, the “dog-friendly area” on North Larrabee Street, and this year’s Taste of River North.

 Hear Alderman Reilly’s entire remarks (16:56)