Bird enthusiasts, art lovers and consumers of fine things...come to Fly Bird, 719 Lake Street in Oak Park, now through June 14th for a visual and affordable treat. Fly Bird, a design-oriented gift shop in Oak Park, is hosting the 5th annual student art show/auction to benefit the Oak Park Education Foundation.

District 97 students from Hatch, Irving, Julian and Brooks schools, under the supervision of their art teachers, have created beautiful, colorful, 11" x 11" paintings with a bird theme. Bidding starts at only $5, will increases in increments of $5, with a "Buy Now" option for only $20! Bids can be made via email, telephone or in person. And Frame Warehouse is offering $25 discounts on framing.

Fly Bird is open seven days a week, Monday thru Saturday from 10-6 pm and Sunday from 12 to 4 pm. Email headbird@fly-bird.net, call 708-383-3330 or come to the store with any questions regarding the show. Stop by and take a look!

 

Thank you to all who donated, attended, purchased and celebrated at the Oak Park Education Foundation's William C. Staszak dinner on April 25, 2009. Our silent and live auctions, full of exciting, one-of-a-kind items, set a new fundraising record for OPEF. Special thanks to our honoree, architect and community volunteer Ade Onayemi, our live auction host, Zoraida Sambolin of NBC5 News Today, and our featured speaker, teacher Karen Fogg.

  Ms. L'Heureux and her Hatch 5th graders participated in a special Art Start project: "Who am I? Where?: Creating Maps of the Self and Community," now on display at Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street.

Working with artist Guillermo Delgado, students made books including creative maps and writing of the self, community, journeys, special spaces, and memorable events using a variety of art mediums and mixed media. Mr. Delgado is a visual artist living in Oak Park. He was recently awarded a Ragdale Foundation artist residency through the National Endowment for the Arts and will be a visiting artist at Michigan State University for the second year in fall 2009.

You can see photos from the project here and an interview about the project with Mr. Delgado here.