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Latest news from the Oak Park Art League ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Greetings OPAL Community! What a June! Every weekend we were out at one event or another meeting people at Day in our Village and Oak Park’s Pride event Out in the Burbs, hosting groups in the gallery and sharing what we do at OPAL, offering artmaking opportunities to all. |
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We relaunched our satellite exhibitions with a two person show at Prairie Title. Sandra Ferguson and Dave Ottens will have their paintings on exhibit through September. Welcome our summer Intern Irene, who jumped right in and helped install the show at Prairie Title. |
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Our Resident Artist changes this month. Shanelle Harrison has been creating, teaching and while her time in the residency space is over, Shanelle has become a part of our community and will be curating our August exhibition Stories from the Soul.
We are excited to welcome Betty Kim as the OPAL Artist in Residence, from July - September. Check out what Betty will be doing in the space. |
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Summer events continue in July, first with a walk up Ridgeland at the July 4th Diversity Parade, 10am to noon! We have more fun in store this time and would love a large number to join us and represent the diversity of our artist community. You can volunteer to join us in the fun by signing up here.
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BAKE SALE @ OAK PARK FARMER’S MARKET, JULY 19th - HELP BAKE! Of course there is more to discover below but I want to make sure you know about our Annual Fundraising Gala, HOUSE of OPAL, Friday September 12, 7-9pm. I am very excited for some new developments that will make this a memorable evening of celebrating art and community at OPAL.
Tickets are now on sale for HOUSE of OPAL Check out the rest of our news and upcoming exhibits and classes below. We thank you for your support! Memberships, class registrations art and shop sales and donations or sponsorships keep us going.
Sincerely,
Bryan Northup Grayson
Executive Director
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Mark on your calendars and participate, volunteer or support OPAL at these events. Thank you!
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OPAL will be turning up with delicious baked goods at the Farmer’s Market BAKE SALE on July 19. We would appreciate both your support by helping to bake some goodies and/or buying some of our artist made treats, all sales help support the mission of the Oak Park Art League. Sign up to volunteer if you’d like to help the day of this fundraising event. Thank you! |
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OPAL is honored to host Betty Kim as our artist-in-residence July through September 2025.
Betty is a lens-based artist and educator in the Chicago metropolitan area. She incorporates self-portraiture, archival materials, pop culture, and a range of fiction and non-fiction sources through her exploration of the following mediums: photography, printmaking, fiber arts, and sculpture. |
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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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We are always open to enhancing our garden courtyard, especially with works of art! Check out what has landed and stop by to see the sculptures in OPAL’s courtyard garden. |
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Summer in the studio!
Our Summer 2 Session has begun
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Pick-Up and Drop-off for the next show is
July 5 & 6, 1-4pm
UP NEXT :
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The Oak Park Art League presents an open call exhibition which seeks to inspire action and social change by showcasing innovative “green” eco-art works made with reclaimed or found materials diverted from the waste stream and repurposed for art.
The exhibition aligns with Plastic-free July and will feature a community made installation of crocheted plastic coral forms that has been slowly growing over the past 6 months, made during a series of maker meet ups called the Crochet Coral Club.
To bring awareness to the effects we have on the planet and future generations, this exhibit is open to works by young artists. ARTIST RECEPTION - Saturday, July 12, 2025, 1-4pm SPIRALING: Eco-Art for Kid’s Sake Exhibition runs
July 11 - August 10, 2025 ● Limit of 2 submissions per artist
Submission fee:
Artist Member - 1st work - $25., 2nd work $10.
Non Member - 1st work - $45., 2nd work $20. Important Dates
Drop off work: July 5 & 6 Pick up work: Aug 9 & 10 |
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OPEN FOR SUMBISSIONS
Exhibition Juror: Sheri Rush Abstract art comes in many forms and made with diverse materials and techniques, but the common thread running through this diverse category is the desire to convey more than what meets the eye, to go deeper than surface appearances.
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Our June through September featured OPAL Artists at Prairie Title are Sandra Ferguson and Dave Ottens.
The Oak Park Art League is once again offering members a chance to display their work outside our main gallery, in local businesses we have partnered with to provide more exposure for artists. |
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Michael Cuadrado Gonzalez, OPAL painting Instructor and Programing Coordinator is exhibiting at LVL3 Gallery now through August 3, 2025 |
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Diane Ponder is exhibiting in The Small but Mighty Postage Stamp Exhibit
at August House
2113 W. Roscoe St Chicago 60618
Exhibit runs until Saturday July 12th
Hours: Wednesday thru Saturday 1 to 5 P.M. |
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OPAL is publishing its first ARTISTS of OPAL Cookbook, planned to be released in November 2025, just in time for the holidays and aligned with our Food for Thought exhibition. We’re launching this |
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The Crochet Coral Club continues! JOIN US at our next Meet up, Sunday July 20, 1-3pm!
OPAL invites anyone interested in creating coral-shaped forms out of crocheted plastic to our monthly ‘make something’ meet-ups. The final pieces will be displayed in our July exhibition. |
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Come shop in person in a new gift shop tucked in the corner of the Carriage House Gallery and filled with original handmade art and objects created locally. Discover new OPAL designs on swag you can |
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As a way to raise funds for more seating and gallery improvements, OPAL is starting an adoption opportunity for our brand-new chairs. For $25. you can adopt a chair and add your name and website link |
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You are invited to dress to express! "Come as Your Art!" Get a first look at the Fall Artist Member exhibition "FASHION" in the Carriage House Gallery, Enjoy delectable bites, beverages, and dessert accompanied by music and a live fashion show in our starlit courtyard, raffles and unique silent auction packages! PURCHASE TICKETS OR DONATE HERE |
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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: Linda DeViller
Secretary: Maria Gedroc
Treasurer: David Baker
Directors:
Margot McMahon Mia Garcia Hills Ginger Brent
Shira Slack Barbara McClure Dave Palomares
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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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