Art Shows

Check here for information and photos about art shows, art walks, and other art events in the region.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Shopping in the Hills

Get ready for "Shopping in the Hills" Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29, 12-5pm both days. Holiday shoppers will finally have a very cool alternative to the hectic mall shopping scene.

As part of our "Shopping in the Hills" event, we're setting up two art and craft fairs at wineries on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, and we are planning to set up additional art shows at other spots in the Shawnee Hills region. One art and craft fair will take place at the pavillion at Blue Sky Vineyard, with a "jewelry and wearable art" theme. The other art and craft fair will take place at Von Jakob Orchard and Vineyards with a "home decor" theme. Other art stops will be announced as soon as possible.

By "Shopping in the Hills," you can find unique handmade gifts for the holidays, support local vendors, and enjoy a glass of fine wine all at the same time! Stay tuned to HeartlandArts.Net for more information.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

First Art Around the Square and Colorfest Art Trail Digest

Over the weekend of October 10-12, HeartlandArts.Net helped to organize several local art events. On Friday, October 10, we co-hosted the first "Art Around the Square" event in Carbondale along with the Historic Town Square Business Coalition. There was an excellent turnout, with couples and groups of friends starting out with dinner at the local restaurants and then strolling around the square to view and purchase the art on display at local businesses. At Art Lovers Trading Company, one couple showed their enjoyment by dancing around the gallery. Elaine Ramseyer, General Manager of Longbranch Coffeehouse, said, "It was great for building the community, and it was so much fun seeing all the people out on the street." A variety of excellent artists were featured at the event, including emerging artists Rachel Christine Nowicki and Andrea LeBeau. The second Art Around the Square event is planned for December 12 in Carbondale

The "Colorfest Art Trail" took place at some of the wineries and other venues along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail October 11-12. The wineries were packed on Saturday and comfortably crowded on Sunday, with musical acts playing at nearly every stop along the trail. Winery owners, including John Patrick Russell at Rustle Hill Winery and event coordinator Lisa Pye at Von Jakob Orchard and Vineyard, confirmed that many patrons had been drawn by the art on special display over the weekend. An exhibit by Biki Chaplain is still on display at Orlandini Vineyards until the end of the year, as well as photography by Cleta Jo Shirley at Inheritance Valley Vineyards until the end of October. HeartlandArts.Net is working towards getting more art installed at wineries, lodging and other businesses along the wine trail and beyond. Stay tuned for more information about shows in the planning stages for the upcoming Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Open House event the weekend of November 28-30.

In case you haven't seen the pictures yet, click here!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

WOW! What a weekend!

In case you missed it, there was art galore this weekend in southern Illinois. Thanks to my mom for making a special trip for the weekend! We had a blast, and I know a lot of other people were out enjoying the wineries this weekend. For now, we've got some photos for you. Please forgive my amateur photography, I can assure you that you should see the art in person to get the full effect.

Art Around the Square, Carbondale, October 10, 2008
Colorfest Art Trail, October 11, 2008: StarView Vineyards, Orlandini Vineyards, Owl Creek Vineyard
Colorfest Art Trail, October 12, 2008: Von Jakob Orchard and Vineyard, Inheritance Valley Vineyard, the Red Ear, Rustle Hill Winery

Friday, October 10, 2008

Preparations for the big Art Weekend!

Here's Andi earlier today at Art Lover's Trading Company in Carbondale helping with the preparations for tonights "Art Around the Square" event. It's from 7-10 tonight, Friday October 10. Andi will be showing her work at Hair Brains. For more information about the event, click here.

We have also been busy along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail helping artists to set up their shows, or at least taking pictures of them setting up their shows.:) Here is Cleta Jo Shirley from Carterville out at Inheritance Valley yesterday.

Three photographers are putting together an exhibition at Von Jakob Orchard and Winery along 127. Here is Michael Seltzer, who along with Thomas Rabideau and Kris Killman will adorn the walls for the weekend.

Paintings from Biki Chaplain are hanging at Orlandini Vineyard, and things are still getting set up at Rustle Hill! There is lots more, check here for more information. We hope everyone will enjoy the shows. Please be sure to check the winery web pages for information about opening hours, musical act information, admission fees, etc.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Stroll Around the Square

Businesses in downtown Carbondale open doors to art lovers

By Brent Stewart, The Southern

Art Around the Square – 7 to10 p.m, Friday, Carbondale Town Square.

It's fall. The humid days of the last few months are far behind us, and there isn't a better time to enjoy a walk in Southern Illinois.

So, why not take a stroll Friday night, when businesses in downtown Carbondale will open their doors for Art Around the Square, an event hosted by heartlandarts.net and the Historic Town Square Business Coalition.

Heartlandarts.net is a for-profit partnership of retail gallery owners, artists, marketers and patrons of the arts, including Amy McMorrow, owner of southernillinoisspecialties.com, a Web site project of Innucopia, LLC, in Carbondale, Sue Mills, owner of Art Lovers Trading Co., and Lauren Zadikow of The Red Ear, a new gallery space in Alto Pass.

"Basically, we just want to promote art shows and artists in the region," McMorrow said.

Mills opened Art Lovers five years ago after seeing a need in the community for an artistic outlet. In the last few years, Southern Illinois' place in the art world has seemed to expand, with more businesses offering gallery or display space. Mills feels there are more artists moving into the area, and now is the perfect time to get the different businesses and organizations on the same page in encouraging the development of this community.

It's a partnership that could be good for the artists and the town, especially downtown.

Art Around the Square is a step in that direction.

"I think people want something now, and they're getting on board," Mills said.

Although you can take whatever route you like, conceivably a person could start out at Thai Taste, which will be featuring its artist of the month, at 100 S. Illinois Ave., walk around the town square, and end up at Art Lovers at 201 E. Main St. to see its diverse collection of Southern Illinois artists.

Along the way, you'll be able to see paintings by Eileen Doman at the office of Dr. Brian McElheny, paintings by Jackie Tice and photography by Daniel Tice at Longbranch Coffeehouse, interior design at Global Gourmet, Myers Avripas mixed media designs at the Arthur Agency, paintings by Andrea LeBeau at Hair Brains, paintings by Rachel Christine Nowicki at Fusion Ultra Lounge, and photography by Susan Phillips at the Newell House Grotto. The Tree House, a new artist studio about the Town Square Market, will also be open for visitors and will exhibit the photography of Terry Hickey, an installation by Hilary Chandler and sculpture by Danielle Konings.

"If people want to have a nice meal while they're here, they can go in to one of the restaurants, eat and walk off their food," Mills said.

Mills and McMorrow are both very excited about the event, hoping it will encourage commerce in the town square area and raise the profile of local artists. They also hope it will become a regular event involving more and more participants.

"We still have a lot of things we can do with it," McMorrow said. "We're just getting started."

brent.stewart@thesouthern.com / 351-5074

Saturday, October 4, 2008

October at Little Egypt Arts

A notice from Patty Morrison:
Here is an invitation/notice to all of you to see the latest of My and Missy's efforts in Impressionism. As you know, she focuses on oils with a pallette knife and I focus on acrylics with brush. We hope you can join us in celebrating our efforts either by a visit or at our reception on Friday, October 17, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
For a special treat also, we will be co-hosting this reception with award-winning artist and curator, Marie Samuels. Marie has put together an art exhibit (with many items for sale:) that is composed of art that is created from recycled items. You will see ways to recycle plastic, material, metal, and who knows what else!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Two new additions to Colorfest Art Trail

The Union County Museum on South Appleknocker in downtown Cobden will sponsor a special exhibit titled “Hankies, Hats, and Handbags.” The display will feature women’s vintage items. The items are from several local collections, including one belonging to Lillian Milam of Jonesboro. The museum is also featuring an exhibit of presidential political memorabilia. The museum’s General Store will be open and will have fall/Halloween items and antiques/collectibles on sale. Hours for Colorfest weekend are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

Also, Joan Skiver-Levy will be showing some of her work at Rendleman Orchards in Alto Pass.

For the latest Colorfest Art Trail from top to bottom, click here.