‘South Bank’ Art and Music Extravaganza Planning Underway

A special thanks to Valerie Burd and Trish Kinnavy-Marshall for providing the following news release and photographs.

More than 15 Chicago-area professional artists and musicians have signed up to display their work or perform from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 1, at a free South Bank Art and Music Festival at five Yorkville businesses and the .

The businesses which are participating include , which is expanding its coffee shop at the Riverfront Park to include the South Bank Art Gallery; , 227 Heustis St.; Geneva Kayak; and , Inc., 129 E. Hydraulic St.  If the weather is good, concerts also will be performed at the pavilion in Riverfront Park. 

Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the , and some of the artists are donating artwork to be auctioned off as a fundraiser for the Pantry.

The event is the brainchild of Yorkville resident Trish Kinnavy-Marshall, a guitarist and folk song writer who also owns Holistic Hair.  She says this will be the first in a series of on-going artistic events to highlight what she has dubbed Yorkville’s “South Bank” – that area on the south side of the Fox River adjacent to the new Marge Cline Whitewater Course.

“This South Bank area is a perfect place to hold this,” Kinnavy-Marshall says.  “There’s so much going on here now.  You can kayak or canoe or fish, and if you don’t want to kayak, you can get a coffee, or popcorn, or ice cream, or Mexican food, or sit in the coffee shop and look at the artwork.  It’s exciting.”

Kinnavy-Marshall stresses this is just the first in a series of events to highlight the on-going art shows.

“The art work will continue to be on display through July 1, when we will hold another event,” she said.  “Artists can exhibit and sell their artwork for three months, and then we will offer space to other artists.”

Kinnavy-Marshall says she has been involved in other area fundraising events, and art shows, and loves to do these events.  She thought this on-going art showcase would be a great way to bring local small businesses together and bring the focus on the South Bank area.  All the people who are involved, she says, has an interest in promoting the riverfront. 

Although Kinnavy-Marshall says the art gallery and shows will be a great way for younger artists and musicians to have an opportunity to get their work before the public, she emphasizes that all of the showcased artists and musicians are professionals.

Among the musicians scheduled to appear so far are: Bill Buckley, a native American flutist from Chicago; David Bon, acoustic guitar and harmonica; The Morgan Fields -- Kathy and Troy Grundy of Winthrop Harbor, IL, bass guitar and vocals; Steve Shonder, guitar, Berwyn, IL;  Ethan Bell and the Death Folk Marching Band; Zach Wessel, singer/songwriter, Yorkville; Matt Skala, singer/songwriter, folk rock, Sandwich; Daniel Shinabarger, singer/songwriter, Woodstock; and Kinnavy-Marshall, guitar.

Displaying artists are: Eric Prinvic, Oswego;  Miro Kedijaks, Berwyn; Paul Burd, Yorkville; Virginia Stibbe, Yorkville; Danielle Ebersole, Owego; and Kelly Shultz, Yorkville.

In addition, Todd and Eric Fink of the Giving Tree Band will be displaying a children’s book “The Stream,”  which they created based on a song they wrote.

For more information on the Festival, or the on-going art display, contact Trish Kinnavy-Marshall at 630-882-8757.