The pieces are in place for this year's Fine Art fair down at Peoria's Riverfront.
Last year's fair had a record breaking crowd and organizers are hoping for the same success despite last week's flooding.
News 25's Syreeta Baker shows us why some artists say even in a tough economy art still sells.

Slowly but surely the flood waters are fading away.

"We've had quite a few calls this week asking if we are still going to have the fair," says Kim Armstrong.

"I'm from Des Moines and we are used to flooding," says Chris Vance.

This part of downtown that was underwater a week ago is now dry.
While that may be a drastic improvement...artists at the 46th Annual Fine Art Fair still have to make some adjustments.

"We moved 55 artists the kids art festival and the interactive mural.
We moved them down to the north end of the fair," says Kim Armstrong.

Some artist setting up their work here at the Fine Art fair say selling their work is a lot like farming. They both require good weather to be successful.

"If you have good turn out if you have a wide price point of your artwork what tends to happen is that people do come out and buy what they can afford," says Greg Gawlowski.

Still with questions raised about the fair being open because of flooding topped off with an economy in need of a bail out artist Chris Vance says this is his best year yet.

"I'm having the best year I've ever had since I started.
So it doesn't seem to be affecting my sales," says Chris Vance.

Sales he's hoping that will surpass last year's since organizers are anticipating another record breaking crowd.

"We have artist that have literally traveled from coast to coast.
Some from as far as Washington and New York.
And they all come here and we're confident the Peoria Community will come out like they do every year and come support these artist," says Kim Armstrong.

In Peoria,
Syreeta Baker News 25.