Gifting Local Art in Champaign County
One of the most identifiable values of the greater Champaign County area to visitors is our love for local art. We have a robust public art scene, many gorgeous gallery spaces, and so many talented artists that call our area home. For the holidays, gifting local art is a great way to show some love to friends and family that comes along with a message. Art lives here in the greater Champaign County area because we support artists, celebrate diverse minds and spirits that create in our community, and cherish what it means for our residents.
As you probably know, there are countless local artists in the area who have work you can gift this holiday season. These are just some of the options we've highlighted in our 2020 Shop Local guide. A great place to find more is the comprehensive LOCAL ART Holiday Gift Guide put together by 40 North. With categories for specific pieces and links to websites and social media, it's a great tool for finding exactly what you're looking for safely from home. We're also happy to highlight a few
SHOW THE LOVE WITH LOCAL ART!
The local art scene is something we’re extremely proud of in the greater Champaign County area, and it also happens to make for a great array of sources of gifts! To start, if you have an artist at home, head to Art Coop for supplies to keep them creating into the new year. If you want to help someone add a feature piece to their home, Cinema Gallery, in the historic Princess Theatre in downtown Urbana, is the area’s largest fine art gallery. Over 70 professional artists around the Midwest showcase their work here, which gives you a lot to choose from to find that perfect gift, maybe even for yourself! Just down the block, The Gilbert Gallery, open by appointment, represents nearly 40 local artists, from jewelry to sculpture and everything in between. How about art that’s a bit smaller – okay, A LOT smaller? Cammie Meerdink at Piper Pottery creates tiny houses that seem to create a magical village that was meant to be in the woods, a fitting visual for this time of year and the colder months. Local favorite Larry Kanfer and his art gallery make for a one-stop-shop for home prints, books, calendars, and more that display the beauty of the prairie land. Last but not least, consider something a bit more delicate from some glassmakers in our area! Cracked Glass offers classes, which you can gift for a memorable night out with friends or family in the future, and Prairie Fire Glass does the same! Plus, Prairie Fire offers a number of pieces for sale in-house that can help complete any room of the house in style!
You can also find art at a few seasonal markets taking place both online and in-person. The CU Misfit Market is featured this year as an online portal for your convenience and safety. Be sure to follow them on social media as well for incredible story takeovers by local artists! The Little Red Hut is also a great place to support local artists in person. With safety as a top priority, artists at this outdoor booth are selling their creations in a way that is safe for both the consumer and seller. Likewise, the Page Roasting Co. Bazaar is a safety-minded market you can shop in-person as well. Flying Machine Avionics in Champaign plays host to this rotating market of local artists and makers that offer everything from apparel and jewelry to candles soaps and more!
We know how many artists there are in the greater Champaign County area. If you want us to help boost your work, then please feel free to tag us on Instagram @visitchampaign so we can feature you in our Instagram Story! Thanks for shopping local this holiday season!