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Latest news from the Oak Park Art League ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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Greetings OPAL Community! Our BIG news is OPAL’s upcoming annual gala HOUSE of OPAL on September 12!!! We would love to have you at the party or support us with a donation if you cannot attend.
There is so much coming up and news to report for this newsletter that I will share a list of links up front.
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Colleen Campbell Dave Palomares Barbara McClure Check out the rest of our news, upcoming exhibits and classes below. Your membership, class registrations, art and shop sales, donations or sponsorships and attending and sharing our events with your friends helps keep OPAL going. I hope you find time to stop by and visit and get to know more deeply our local artist community at OPAL. Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Bryan Northup Grayson
Executive Director
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The Oak Park Art League has partnered with La Romita School of Art in Umbria Italy to form a group artist retreat in summer 2027. Currently we are sharing this opportunity and gathering interested artists who would like to learn more join in this exciting art adventure! |
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The West Cook YMCA has invited the Oak Park Art League to collaborate on an exciting mural project in their community gathering space that will be the focal point of their remodeled first floor. Find out more and contact us if interested in assisting with this project. |
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OPAL’s artist residency program began in May 2024 and is once again open for proposals through November 1, 2025.
Visit Artist Residency page for more details, past resident projects and a portal for submissions. |
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Stop by to see Distorted Lens, Betty Kim’s camera obscura installation in our residency space, now through Sept 28.
You also have the chance to take a digital photography class with Betty in our upcoming Fall 1 session. |
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The Oak Park Art League offers 12 classes this session, including exciting new media and some favorite instructors and courses that have been on break over the summer or longer.
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Weaving Form: Sculpture with Wire, Textiles, Paper, and Drawing
with Bethany Cordero Monday, 10am - 12pm
BEGINNING TO INTERMEDIATE DRAWING
with Jesse Howard Tuesday, 10am - 12pm Portrait & Figures in Watercolor
with Tony Armendariz Tuesday, 1-3pm EXPLORING OIL PAINTING
with Julie Sulzen Tuesday, 6:30 - 8:30pm WATERCOLOR BASICS
with Tony Armendariz Wednesday, 10am-12pm PASTEL PAINTING
with Mike Barett Kolasinski Wednesday, 1pm-3pm Intro to Digital Photo 1
with Betty Kim Wednesday, 4-6pm BEGINNING TO ADVANCED DRAWING
with Jesse Howard Wednesday, 7pm - 9pm EXPLORING OIL PAINTING
with Julie Sulzen Thursday, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
THIS IS A FOUR WEEK SESSION 9/11, 9/18, 10/2, 10/9 Working With Mixed Media - Experiment, Play & Create
with Jackie Lakely Friday, 10am - 12pm Working With Mixed Media - Experiment, Play & Create
with Jackie Lakely Friday, 1pm - 3pm Variations on Oil and Cold Wax Mediums
with Denise Grossman Friday, 4pm-6pm
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After a brief summer break, Figure model sessions resume on Thursdays and Sundays in September with two clothed model sessions.
Take a look at upcoming sessions as we have some new models and a paired model session scheduled. Thank you to Christopher Heron for facilitating our weekly figure model sessions. |
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During OPAL’s Fall Fundraiser, HOUSE of OPAL, the work by OPAL members on the gallery walls will create a rich backdrop of creative expression, epitomizing OPAL’s mission and representing our unique artistic community.
Artist members interpret the multiple meanings of the word ‘fashion’ - the concept of fashion, the verb to fashion, to create in your own unique style an artwork that can only be made by you and is immediately recognizable as your work.
Bonus entry call + details, read more |
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The Oak Park Art League is once again offering active members a chance to display their work outside our main gallery, in local businesses we have partnered with to provide more exposure for artists. There are a few options now and you can sign up to exhibit at: Please complete the submission form |
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OPAL Instructor MIKE BARRET KOLASINSKI CPP-M, IAPS-MC, PSA is honored to have his WildScape, For Your Glistening Pleasure 16 x 12 - Dry Pastel - juried into the True Colors Expressive Landscapes at the Grove Gallery 619 Grove Street, Evanston, Illinois 60201 September 6 – October 26, 2025
with an Opening Reception September 6, 20252-5 pm (Central) |
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This is where you will find all the opportunities we come across or that come in especially to be shared with the OPAL artist community. |
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In a world overwhelmed by troubling news, OPAL is a vital ‘third space’—a refuge where you can immerse yourself in art-making, take a meaningful break from reality to benefit your wellness, and connect with a supportive community.
As funding for arts and nonprofits continues to decline, your membership and support is more crucial than ever.
Join us in safeguarding this historic, creative sanctuary—renew your membership today and help ensure OPAL thrives for everyone who needs it. Thank you!
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Oak Park Art League Founded in 1921, OPAL is one of the longest, continually-running nonprofit arts organizations in Illinois, fulfilling its mission by offering high-quality art education, lectures, artist demonstrations, critiques, and monthly exhibitions in our historic gallery. Our Mission The Oak Park Art League's mission is to be a welcoming center of artistic inquiry, creative expression and art appreciation in Oak Park and the surrounding communities. Board of Directors
President: David Baker
Vice President: Mia Garcia Hills
Secretary: Maria Gedroc
Treasurer: Shira Slack
Directors:
Margot McMahon Ginger Brent Barbara McClure
Dave Palomares Colleen Campbell
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To support OPAL’s mission the board has re-started committees with a board member heading each. Whether its Building & Grounds, Education, Marketing & Membership or Fundraising, we are currently seeking volunteers eager to contribute their time and talents to better serve our community.
Contact us via email if you’d like to serve on a committee.
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GALLERY HOURS Thursday & Friday 1-5 pm
Saturday 10 am-4 pm
Sunday 1-4pm
Monday -Wednesday Closed or by appointment
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Land Acknowledgement
Each exhibition, program and class associated with the Oak Park Art League (OPAL) takes place on the traditional homelands of the Council of Three Fires - the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa -
as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk Nations.
OPAL recognizes that the region we now call Chicago and Oak Park was the traditional homeland of many Indigenous nations,
and remains home to diverse Native people today. The land we walk was, and remains Native land.
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Thank you to our generous sponsors
Oak Park Art League is partially funded by the Oak Park Area Arts Council, in partnership with the Village of Oak Park, the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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