A series of paintings by Oak Street Art member Rachel Malcolm Ensor will be on display at the Varsity Center in Carbondale, Illinois, from February 8 through March 5, 2019.

Rachel has chosen the title "Sojourn: American Quilt Series" for the show and will be glad to meet you at the artist's reception on Friday, February 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Varsity Center (418 S. Illinois Ave. in Carbondale). Please see the flyer below.

Given the influence of art from the African Diaspora in Rachel's work, it is especially fitting for this show to run during African American History Month (February). We invite you to read Rachel's artist statement below, immediately following the flyer.

Congratulations, Rachel!

A print series by Oak Street Art printmaker Luca Cruzat has been selected for inclusion in the 2019 Delta National Small Prints Exhibition this winter. For this exhibition, Luca's work Vulnerable (pictured below) was on display from January 24 through February 20, 2019.

UPDATE: We just found out that Luca's piece won a Juror's Merit Award! Congratulations, Luca!!! You can see the exhibit catalog here. Scroll to page 20 for Luca's series and artist statement.

The competitive show at the Bradbury Art Museum in Jonesboro, Arkansas, was juried by José Diaz, Chief Curator of The Andy Warhol Museum. During the exhibit dates, hours were from 12 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays and from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, please call (870) 972-3687.

Shop local for the holidays and delight your family and friends with one-of-a-kind art gifts by Darby Ortolano (ceramics) and Sue Gindlesparger (metals, jewelry). See samples of each artist's work below.

On Sunday, November 18 (2018), Shop304 will host this pop-up art sale from 1 to 5 p.m. in downtown Carbondale, Illinois. Stop by ArtSpace 304  at 304 W. Walnut St. in Carbondale! See map below.

​In support of The Women's Center, Oak Street Art members set up shop at the Old Feed Store venue in Cobden, Illinois, on Saturday morning, November 3, 2018. 

Sue Gindlesparger (metals, jewelry) and Darby Ortolano (ceramics) were on hand for good conversation and to share the work of all seven Oak Street Art members. 

We were especially delighted to be invited to participate by Women's Center board member Stephanie Dillard. Stephanie also happens to be a talented stained glass artist featured in the 2018 Oak Street Fine Arts Fair. (UPDATE: Stephanie is now a member of Oak Street Art!)

A portion of all Oak Street Art sales from this "Feed the Need" fundraiser went directly to the Women's Center. In particular, proceeds were earmarked specifically for services to Union County survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

​In a multidisciplinary activity combining literature and art, two second grade classrooms at the General John A Logan Attendance Center created dream catchers under the instruction of leatherwork artist and Oak Street Art member Cathy Schmidt (pictured below in white Oak Street Art apron).

The students worked very hard on their individual projects.  The smiles  below show their enjoyment, pride, and success in creating art!    

The participating teachers have agreed to head up the Children’s Art Tent at the annual Oak Street Art Fair in April 2019.  Keep checking back for more details on art activities in these classrooms.     

More dreamcatcher fun: Cathy and Shirley have been busy! 

As part of Oak Street Art's mission to nurture connections between art and our community, two artists from the group participated in the recent STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) event at the Murphysboro Youth and Recreation Center.  

Cathy Schmidt (leatherwork) and Shirley Krienert (fiber and mixed media) led participants in the creation of their own dream catchers. The event was well attended. Check out some sample work below!

More dreamcatcher fun: Cathy and Shirley have been busy! ​

​Oak Street Art member Ann R. Fischer brought home First Place at the 2018 Shrode Photography Competition. Awards were presented by Shrode Art Center Director Carrie Gibbs at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, during an October 20 reception​.

​Two other OSA members, Darby Ortolano (ceramics) and Shirley Krienert (fiber, mixed media), accompanied Ann and are shown in the last photo below.

With veteran photographer Ray Marklin as the judge, 39 out of 212 pieces were included in the final exhibit, which is on display at the Regenhardt Gallery at Cedarhurst through December 30, 2018. See the full set of exhibit photos here. 

Two of Ann's pieces were selected for the final exhibit, but First Place went to "Abstract, Colored Straws," shown below, which Ann says is one of her favorites. 

Oak Street Art member Ann R. Fischer had two pieces (pictured below) selected for inclusion in the 2018 Shrode Photography Competition Exhibition at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts. In all, 212 photographs were submitted for consideration, and 41 were selected by juror Ray Marklin.​

The exhibit runs from October 21 through December 30, 2018,​ in the Regenhardt Gallery at Cedarhurst. The public is also welcome for the Preview Reception on Saturday, October 20, at 6:30 (admission is $5). Awards will be announced at 7:00. Just before the reception is a gallery talk at 6:00 by solo exhibitor Daniel Overturf.

Update: The first image ("Abstract, Colored Straws") won First Place! 

Thanks to Blaine Ensor and George Mendez for sharing their photos from the 2018 fair! Hover for captions, or click to begin a lightbox slideshow with captions.

If you have other photos you're willing to share, please post them on our Facebook page, post to Instagram using the #oakstreetartfair tag, or click to email them to Ann. 

Come on, 2019!