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Latest news from the Oak Park Art League͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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Dear Members and Friends,
I hope you are finding time for making and appreciating art.
In February we shared a new kind of exhibition in the gallery, anonymous “secret” artworks that have very personal stories behind them. The opening performance by curator Betsy Zacsek was captivating and enjoyed by all who attended. You have one more chance to hear the stories and see the artworks at the closing performance on Saturday March 8, 1:30pm Also in March, we have scheduled an artist talk and a reading by local authors in addition to our ongoing critiques and makers meet-up to crochet coral forms out of plastic. Check out our linked list below and click through to find more details. You will see that many of our events now encourage an RSVP and this is just so we know how many participants to expect. We appreciate any donation you feel moved to make toward more programs at OPAL. Next in the gallery we have our annual Figure and Portrait exhibition, POSE!, opening reception Saturday March 15 and our Spring classes are up on the website and open for registration. The next session begins March 16. There are always opportunities to take some time for creating and learning at OPAL. Now go make some art!
Sincerely,
Bryan Northup Grayson
Executive Director
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Saturday March 8th, 1:30 pm Closing Performance of Cabinet of Secret Art RSVP HERE
Saturday March 15th, 1-4 pm Opening Reception for POSE! Juried Figure Exhibition
Sunday March 16th, 1-3 pm Crochet Coral Club
Saturday March 22, 2-4 pm Artist Talk: PLANET POSITIVE PRINTING FOR ARTISTS with Print Innovation Lab RSVP HERE
Sunday March 23, 1-3 pm Local Authors Reading & Open Mic RSVP HERE
Thursday March 27, 6-8 pm Open Critique
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SUNDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with CLOTHED Model Sunday March 2, 10am - 1pm
Model: Michael First Sunday of each month, OPAL figure sessions will feature a clothed model. Open to teens 12+ as well as adults These are 3-hour, non-instructional figure drawing sessions. Work on your life drawing skills at your own self-directed pace! |
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Saturday, March 8th, 2025, 1:30pm
The Cabinet of Secret Art will be closing and the artworks and stories behind them will be shared by curator Betsy Zacsek one last time at the closing of the showstarting at 1:30 pm.
Seating is limited, Please RSVP |
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ARTIST TALK:
PLANET POSITIVE PRINTING FOR ARTISTS
with Print Innovation Lab
MARCH 22, 2-4 pm RSVP HERE OPAL is thrilled to have Master Printer Juan Carlos Hernandez of Print Innovation Lab address our community with a talk about Earth friendly art prints for artists.
Juan Carlos will speak about the environmental impact of traditional inkjet printing materials and practices, sustainable alternatives for RC papers, Cotton, Alternative Fibers, canvas, etc, how to create art reproductions (e.g., giclee prints) using sustainable materials and give practical tips for artists to reduce waste and align their work with eco-conscious values. |
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READING with Local Authors
Our next literary event is Sunday March 23, 1-3pm featuring four local authors reading selections from their books, followed by an open mic opportunity for anyone in attendance. Please RSVP here
Our guest writers are Margot McMahon, Sandra Wilcoxon, April Nauman, Maureen Connolly |
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We are planning a Spring Studio Sale in April and are accepting donations during March, of gently used items including art-making supplies and materials, artwork, and odds and ends.
Bring donations to drop off at OPAL during our regular gallery hours.
This is a fundraiser for OPAL. Thank you!
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NEW COURSES and INSTRUCTORS!
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Sundays 10am - 1pm & Thursdays 9am - noon OPAL offers two figure sessions per week for drawing from a live model. These are 3-hour, non-instructional figure drawing sessions. Work on your figure-drawing skills at your own self-directed pace! Sketch by Christopher Heron |
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Michael Cuadrado Gonzalez is one of our newest instructors at OPAL! Read more about his practice and his class in this months Instructor Spotlight. |
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CLOSING Performance -
Saturday, March 8th, 2025, 1:30pm
The Cabinet of Secret Art will be closing and the contents will be exhibited by artist Betsy Zacsek one last time at the closing of the show at 1:30 pm. Seating is limited, ticketing/RSVP this performance through Eventbrite with a suggested donation of $10./person.
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Jurors:
Artist Susan Hall &
William Ewers, Executive Director of Palette & Chisel Opening Reception and Awards
Saturday, March 15, 1-4pm
For decades the Oak Park Art League has recognized the importance of figure study to artists of all skill levels and media and is proud to continue offering affordable live model life drawing sessions in our studio.
This juried exhibition showcases a diverse spectrum of work based on the human form, yet pushing the boundaries of how we depict ourselves and the bodies we inhabit. |
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In the digital age the QR code has become a staple of everyday life; in restaurants, bars, museums, classrooms, your doctor’s office, and on the street. OPAL invites artists to submit a URL or an image of one work (visual art, video, writing, etc.).
OPAL will create a QR code for each work to be anonymously displayed in the gallery. |
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CALL FOR ART
Are You Really Winning campaign is a juried competition (that OPAL members have won in previous years) for artwork that will bring a powerful voice to problem gambling issues and motivate those afflicted with gambling addiction to seek help.
Entry Deadline: 3/31/25 For full details and to enter |
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The next round of #The100DayProject starts February 23, 2025.
OPAL will support those participating with our #100dayprojectOPAL on social media and a meet up midway through and wrap up and review meeting. |
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JOIN US!
OPAL invites anyone interested in creating coral-shaped forms out of crocheted plastic to our monthly ‘make something’ meet-ups. |
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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. |
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Anyone can bring in a single piece of their own artwork and get feedback from fellow artists.
Artists participating in this critique are expected to bring a piece of artwork to discuss. |
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OPAL is starting off 2025 with a new community connection and a wonderful partnership with Kribi CoffeeAir Rostery. When you stop by OPAL during our weekend hours (1-4pm) to check out the gallery |
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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. |
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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 to the back. |
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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. Through the offering of dynamic public arts programming and exhibitions, our goal is to engage the beginner to professional artist in creative practices allowing for the refinement of their creative voice. Board of Directors
President: Linda DeViller
Secretary: Maria Gedroc
Treasurer: David Baker
Margot McMahon
Mia Garcia Hills
Ginger Brent
Shira Slack
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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
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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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