Located in Christian and Sangamon counties near Rochester, Sangchris Lake State Park was highlighted by The Dyrt for its 120 miles of shoreline along Sangchris Lake, featuring two lakeshore campgrounds. In addition to easy access to both water and nature trails, it has been praised for its friendliness to bird watchers and clean grounds with picnic tables and playgrounds.

The park includes 195 campsites where pets and fires are both allowed, with firewood, showers, drinking water and more available to campers. If you don’t want to camp out in a tent, RV sites and campgrounds are also present.

This summer, you won’t want to miss out on taking a trip to see the views and enjoy this highly rated state park.

Click here for more information.

For over 50 years, the Old State Capitol Art Fair in Springfield has been the crown jewel of art in the Midwest, featuring artists from neighboring states and across the country. This weekend, art collectors and enthusiasts will gather to admire hundreds of art pieces while enjoying live music and food from local shops during this two-day event.

In 1961, the first ever Old State Capitol Art Fair was held. The original organizers wished to highlight the social, cultural and historical aspects of Springfield to promote city pride and solidify Springfield as a model capital city for other cities across the nation to take note of.

Today, the art fair is an annual event, which serves to bring the city together through art and culture and provides individuals the opportunity to purchase original art. Located on the Old State Capitol grounds, the fair takes over downtown Springfield, outpouring onto surrounding streets and sidewalks.

Over 100 artists attend the fair each year to display and promote their artwork. Each artist brings their own unique style and specializes in different categories of media including acrylic, wood, photography, ceramics and more. Since 2011, the art fair has also featured an interactive display that allows attendees to help recreate a piece of artwork from one of the fair’s featured artists.

Visit the Old State Capitol Art Fair on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to take part in the event.

For more information, visit the Old Capitol Art Fair’s website.

Happy viewing!

Education is one of the fundamental pillars of our society, shaping the minds and futures of generations of students. Recognizing the vital role that educators play in this process, the Golden Apple Awards were established in Illinois to honor outstanding teachers and their invaluable contributions. Additionally, May 7 is National Teachers Day, making this time of the year the perfect opportunity to celebrate the educators and teachers in our communities.

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching was established in 1986 by Mike and Pat Koldyke through the Golden Apple Foundation. This distinguished accolade is awarded annually to exceptional teachers and school leaders in Illinois who exhibit excellence in teaching and educational leadership. The mission of the Golden Apple Foundation goes beyond mere recognition – it aims to inspire, develop and support teacher excellence in Illinois, especially in schools of need.

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events has announced their spring and summer festival and special event dates for this year!

• Chicago Farmers Markets (citywide including Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.)
  • Open May – October
• Maxwell Street Market (800 S. Desplaines St.)

Winnie Godfrey is our April Artist of the Month. Originally from Philadelphia, Godfrey was raised on Chicago’s south side and earned a bachelor of science in art and a master of fine arts from the University of Wisconsin. She also studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of California.

The timeless tradition of floral painting inspires most of Godfrey’s work, but she developed a unique style that depicts floral subjects in an eye-catching, modern way. She utilizes light, color and composition techniques to make photorealistic paintings and presents her subjects with a fresh approach to depicting shapes, texture and the translucency of flowers.

Although her artwork primarily consists of oil-based floral paintings, she is renowned for her work in other figurative subjects, including a series inspired by the indigenous Mayans in Guatemala. Each painting illustrates a different village and costume in a sequence of 14 life-size oils titled “Mayan Procession.” While she often uses oil paint, Godfrey includes a variety of mediums in this series, such as textiles, photos and “alfombra” or carpet made of colored sawdust.