Art & Culture

Embrace the Arts

Murals, Galleries, and Art Shows Galore!

While the 21-county area of ILLINOISouth is quite expansive, and many communities have their own unique qualities – there is one thing that much of our territory has in common. Art is everywhere. We’re talking all kinds of art. There is public art, galleries of art, art shows, performing arts – the arts are very popular in our neck of the woods.

Murals are one form of art that really help liven up a community. Some towns like Trenton have recently started adding murals, while other communities like Belleville, Olney, Marshall, and Albion have several colorful works of art scattered throughout their towns. The great thing is that each of these murals serves a different purpose. In Albion, their murals of balloons, a parrot and a frog reading a book are strategically placed for epic photo opportunities. The purpose of many of the murals recently painted in Olney are to celebrate the history of several things associated with the community. A vast majority of the murals that can be found in Olney were recently completed by a group called The Walldogs during a months-long event, where the group completed a few murals at a time over a span of a couple of days. Folks from all over the state and beyond made the trip to Olney to witness the art taking place. “So glad we made the trip from Streator to check out the last phase of the Olney murals,” explains Mary Volkman. “It was great to chat with several of the artists who also created wonderful murals in my hometown!”

Mural painters working at night

Photo Credit: Olney Mad Dog 2020

Explore the murals in Albion

ILLINOISouth is also home to quite a few art shows throughout the year. Art on the Square in Belleville is usually the first of the Art shows to take place each year. Normally scheduled for May, Art on the Square is a juried show with just over a hundred artists. It attracts tens of thousands of folks annually and is consistently one of the top-rated shows in the country each year. With its phenomenal location, it is easy to wander around downtown Belleville and support amazing local businesses after you’re finished admiring the art. Another show that has become a staple in our region is Midwest Salute to the Arts in Fairview Heights. Over the last 30 years Midwest Salute to the Arts has grown into one of the more popular art shows in the Midwest. The show boasts a wide array of artists, live music, food trucks, and a children’s tent where kiddos can create their own art! John Locus of St. Louis has been attending this show for years and has no intentions of stopping. “We LOVE this show,” Locus admits. “The music is always perfect, the food is awesome, the selection of incredible art is second to none. Don’t ever miss this show if you can help it.”

Check out Art on the Square in Belleville

Photo Credit: Jordan Jackovich

There is yet another great show in Highland each fall called Art in the Park. They also have plenty of food, live entertainment, and of course plenty of art on display. One of the neat things about this event is that they have a section solely meant for children to buy art. Many artists in the show donate pieces that kids can buy for a set price of $5. It’s extremely popular, and helps youngsters develop a love for art early on! For a different atmosphere outside of an art show, there is an amazing event in Wayne County that is a must visit. The Fairfield PaintOut is a Plein Air event where artists come from out of town and stay for a few days, all while painting local subjects and landscapes. Spectators can watch the artists in action and purchase their work when it is finished. 2021 was a record year for the Fairfield PaintOut with more visitors and sales than ever before in its ten-year existence, so it’s a great event to mark on your calendar!

An artist painting at the Fairfield PaintOut

Photo Credit: Fairfield PaintOut

While the previously mentioned art shows are juried shows where awards are given out, there is one event in Palestine that is different. The Wabash Valley Wine & Art Festival is exactly how it sounds – you can walk around downtown Palestine trying several different wines, all while purchasing an array of arts and crafts. This event has grown steadily since it started in 2002 and is full of stories from visitors that travel from nearby states!

For fans of live productions, there are several venues worth checking out in our territory! The Looking Glass Playhouse in Lebanon is now in their 48th season, hosting a handful of shows each year for several days at a time. This current season wraps up in May with ‘Oliver,’ before starting up their 49th season in the fall. Another community that really rallies behind a live production is Breese, home of the Clinton County Showcase. There are multiple shows held each year at the historic Avon Theater, which has now been serving up laughs and entertainment in Clinton County for more than 30 years! The Salem Community Theatre and Cultural Center is yet another venue to catch a local performance. They provide visitors the chance to see live performances, music, movies, and more in an iconic art deco style venue full of Egyptian architectural details.

Catch a production at the Looking Glass Playhouse

Photo Credit: Looking Glass Playhouse

If music is more your speed, the Philharmonic Society of Belleville is highly recommended. Believe it or not, the Philharmonic Society of Belleville is the nation’s second oldest continually operating philharmonic orchestra! It has been in existence since 1866 and hosts several performances every year. Our region is also home to several unique art galleries that showcase one-of-a-kind items that cannot be found anywhere else. The Richard W. Bock Sculpture Museum, tucked in the heart of Greenville, is one such place. There are hundreds of sculptures done by Richard W. Bock who was very well known for his architectural sculptures in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He worked closely with Frank Lloyd Wright – so closely that there is a whole room at the Sculpture Museum in Greenville dedicated to their partnership.

Visit the Richard W. Bock Sculpture Museum in Greenville

In Shiloh, there is a new piece of art that has drawn a lot of attention in a few short months. The Freedom Rock is one of many across the country, but the FIRST in Illinois. Artist Ray Sorensen II paints murals on these large rocks to honor Veterans, and in the process – these works of art draw a lot of tourists to see them, because no two painted rocks are the same.

For fans of drawing, especially those who are into cartoonists – a trip to the Misselhorn Art Gallery in Sparta is in order. Roscoe Misslehorn was a renowned Illinois cartoonist who is known as the Norman Rockwell of the Midwest to some. The gallery has over 2,000 genuine works on display – many of which are historical sketches of different locations throughout Missouri and Illinois.

The Tarble Arts Center on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston is a major cultural arts source for the region. The facility has a permanent collection of over one-thousand objects, it also features rotating exhibitions and other programs. The Tarble Arts Center is 1 of only 32 museums in Illinois accredited by the American Alliance of Museums – a very prestigious group! For a chance to purchase art from a gallery, take a trip to the Gaslight Art Colony in Marshall.

At this gallery there is usually member artwork for sale, as well as featured artists who have their work on display. For hands on opportunities at the Gaslight Art Colony, there are also classes and events you can enjoy regularly. Get out there and embrace the arts!

For more information on arts and culture in our region, visit ILLINOISouth.org/Art-and-Theater