Biki Chaplain is our September Artist of the Month. Orginally from Texas, Chaplain moved to Southern Illinois in the 1960's. Although she has worked in many mediums throughout the years her favorite to work in is oil because of the quality of the color.

How long have you been an artist or when did you start?

Apparently, I was an artist long before I realized that I was one. In high school, one of my classmates remembered she had gone to school with me in the second grade and remembered me as the girl who could draw the beautiful birds. However, it wasn’t until college that I considered myself an artist.

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On this day in 2014, I Like Illinois began sharing positive stories about Illinois and Illinois life. For our anniversary, we wanted to focus on what you, our readers, like most about the Land of Lincoln. Here are our five top stories of the past five years:

5. “Illinois: A state with natural advantages.” This 2015 article is an ode to the resources that Illinois land offers its residents. Transportation routes crisscross Illinois due to its access to waterways and central location among the continental US states, but its rich soil and lush forests make it a lovely place for settling down, too.

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Kansas City, who? Thrillist recently released its list of the 33 Best BBQ Joints in America, and three Illinois establishments made the list: 17^th Street Barbecue in Murphysboro, Lem’s Bar-B-Q in Chicago and BEAST Craft BBQ Co. in Belleville.

At 17^th Street Barbecue, which also operates a location in Marion, offerings range from pork-stuffed potato skins to homemade strawberry shortcake. Owner Mike Mills was inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame in 2010 and is the only pit master in America with the security clearance to board Air Force One.

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With fall approaching, Six Flags begins plans for the next year with an announcement for a new attraction for summer of 2020 in Illinois.

Six Flags Great America announced their bid for the world’s tallest water coaster, dubbed the “Tsunami Surge.” The coaster is set to take the spotlight summer of 2020 as the ride sits at a massive 86 ft. tall. The coaster features many twists and turns through 950 feet of tunnel, roaring at speeds of 28 miles per hour.

Six Flags Illinois plans to break the current record in 2020, as the “MASSIV Monster Blaster” in Galveston, Texas, which stands 81 feet tall, is bound to fall to the new competition. The “Tsunami Surge” uses new technology in water jets that are used to propel riders upward in rafts through the ride into five breathtaking drops and views. The Water Coaster will be the first of its kind at Six Flags Great America and promises to bring a lot of fun for any family.

Six Flags Great America has more info on the fun to come, which can be found here.