Once upon a time, in a swirling world of cornfields and skyscrapers known as Illinois, lived an extraordinary group of young artists. They weren't ordinary kids, oh no! They were members of the Splatter Society, Illinois' most creative crew! They squinted at sunsets, closely examining the colors for their next masterpiece. They saw shapes in the clouds that they couldn't wait to capture on canvas. Each one of them had a paintbrush in hand, crayon in pocket, or an idea bubbling in their brilliant brains. The leader of this vibrant crew was Mona the Laughing Llama, a magical creature with rainbow-colored wool and a beret perched jauntily on her head. She had a knack for making art out of everything, even using her multi-colored wool to knit beautiful tapestries! And oh boy, did she have a sense of humor! When she wasn't encouraging the kids to create, she was making them laugh so hard that their bellies ached. While the tall skyscrapers of Chicago reached for the sky, these kids' imaginations reached even further. From the rolling prairies of central Illinois to the bustling streets of Windy City, their art echoed the beauty, diversity, and energy of their state. They painted the Mississippi River as it sparkled under the sun, they drew the historic Route 66 with its neon signs and roadside attractions, and they crafted sculptures inspired by the mighty Lake Michigan. Like Picasso said, "Every child is an artist." In Illinois, the Splatter Society and their Laughing Llama leader proved him right, filling their state with color, laughter, creativity, and above all, extraordinary art. They were the heart of Illinois, splashing joy onto every canvas and every corner of their beloved state.
Read morebest visual-arts programs in Evanston, IL
The Happy Hive is an inclusive play space designed to spark joy and connection for every child. With a special focus on comfort and accessibility for neurodivergent kids, our environment welcomes children of all abilities to explore, move, and create at their own pace. From climbing walls, swings, and zip lines to dedicated zones for pretend play and art, The Happy Hive offers both high-energy fun and creative outlets. While we cater to children ages 1-13 for neurotypical kids, we have no age limit when it comes to kids with special needs—because play should have no boundaries. At The Happy Hive, we believe every child deserves a space where they can feel safe, included, and free to be themselves.
At our business, we are dedicated to fostering creative reuse and community partnerships, all while promoting environmental consciousness and social responsibility. We source materials in a variety of ways to ensure that we are using all of these elements. To help local businesses, we identify their excess materials and potential throw away items, recyclables and scraps that can be used in our repurposing studio. We are also proud to partner with community groups dedicated to green initiatives to collaborate and collect materials from various warehouses and organizations. This helps us to limit our impact on local landfills, while also assisting in creating an environmentally aware community. We also work with individuals in our community to create regular pick ups and drop offs of materials that are ready for reuse. This helps to ensure that each of our business and organizational partners are proudly named as our partners. By doing so, we are able to elevate each of our partners and showcase their dedication to our mission.
Open Studio Project, based in Evanston, Illinois, has been serving the Chicagoland community for more than 30 years. OSP is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to providing award-winning arts programming in a safe, welcoming atmosphere. We believe that creating art is a powerful tool for personal growth and well-being. OSP offers a variety of classes, workshops, and programs for adults and children of all ages and abilities. Our programming is designed to foster confidence, foster creativity, and strengthen social-emotional learning in a welcoming and supportive environment. At Open Studio Project, we invite you to reconnect with your own creativity and share the joy of making art with others. We believe that art can be a powerful way to connect with ourselves and our community. Our experienced staff and instructors are dedicated to helping you make the most of your experience here. Join us and discover the transformative power of art!