by Nicole Sankowski | Aug 31, 2020 | Blog
by Kelly Pollock, feature writer for Buzz Cafe
Tamekia Swint is passionate about serving her community. She is the founder and executive director of the only non-profit of its kind, Styles 4 Kidz, that has just relocated to 235 Harrison Street in the Oak Park Arts District. Styles 4 Kidz provides “Hair Care with Heart” through its two-fold social mission: to create hairstyles that boost the self-confidence and self-esteem of children with textured hair and to teach parents the skills they need to manage their children’s natural hair at home.
Tamekia grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois to study community health. “I had always loved hair, but I never considered doing it professionally. That idea wasn’t accepted in my family. I was supposed to go to college and then get a job,” says Tamekia. As a way to support herself while in school, she decided to learn how to do hair, enrolled in a program at Olive-Harvey, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, and spent a year commuting twice a week between Champaign-Urbana and Chicago.
After college, Tamekia worked at a salon, got a job with the State of Illinois as a parole agent, went back to school to earn her MBA at National Louis University, and worked for Allstate Insurance. But it was a mission trip to Poland to teach English for two weeks that changed her life. One of the leaders asked her to teach an elective and so she taught what she knew how to do: hair. “I hadn’t brought any tools with me, but they gathered what they could and I taught everyone how to braid. And I was struck by one girl who told me that she had always dreamed of having these beautiful braids. I came home wondering if maybe there are girls here who dream of having these beautiful hairstyles too.”
So she made up some flyers and started handing them out at beauty supply stores and slowly built a clientele while continuing to have a vision of “hairbraiding missions” in the community. One Sunday at church, Tamekia noticed a woman and her daughter who had beautifully braided hair. She felt an urge to talk to her. “I went right up to her, introduced myself, and handed her my card. I told her that her daughter’s hair was beautiful so I didn’t think she’d ever need my services, but I was here to help just in case. She replied that she didn’t need my help, but she knew somebody who did and she would have her call me on Monday.”
“Mary called me and my life has never been the same.” Mary had adopted two African American girls, was struggling, and needed immediate help. “It was really bad,” says Tamekia, “but it was fixable.” It took a year of working together every two weeks to get the girls’ hair healthy. At the time, “natural hair was not as accepted as it is now and so there was not a lot of information out there about how to care for it.” Word about Tamekia spread and she soon learned that “Oak Park is a tight-knit community where multiculturalism, transracial adoption, and biracial families are all embraced. This became my community.”
Before long, Tamekia resigned from her insurance job and established a non-profit called Styles 4 Girlz in October 2010. “People tried to convince me that you don’t do hair as a non-profit, but that was my vision. It had a social mission.” The name has since been changed to Styles 4 Kidz to better reflect the children they serve. A few years ago, Tamekia realized that they needed a physical location. “It was hard for me to communicate to people what we were doing and to get donors. People didn’t understand the concept without a location.” When she first started looking for a space to rent, Tamekia wanted to be in the Arts District, but there was nothing available in her price range. So it feels serendipitous now that the perfect space on Harrison Street became available just as they were outgrowing their original location on Lake Street.
While the front room of Styles 4 Kidz looks like a salon, “the level of care that we give each child is different than what you would find in a typical salon,” says Tamekia. “Some of the kids who come here have really damaged hair. We work with them to get the hair healthy. We’re all about nurturing that child and that family.” Eighty percent of the families that Styles 4 Kidz serves are transracial adoptive parents, transracial foster parents, or biracial families. Through workshops and one-on-one coaching, these families are learning skills and building a community. “The kids get a cultural connection in the salon. They see other kids who look like them and other families that look like theirs,” says Tamekia.
Kelly Biggs is thrilled to have found Styles 4 Kidz for her 8-year-old daughter Harper. “We had been to other salons and it was nothing but tears. Coming here is a fun experience and there is a nice community feel. I appreciate everything they do to serve transracial adoptive and biracial families.” In fact, Harper was so happy with her experience that she recently raised $50 from a lemonade stand that she donated to the organization.
“Our budget for this year is $300,000, but COVID-19 has presented a challenge for us,” says Tamekia. Their fiscal year ends on October 31 and while they are close to reaching their goal of serving 600 children, they are only about 60 percent funded. While half their budget is from donations, the other half is from the below-market fees that they charge for services and workshops. “Being shut down for over two months in the spring was hard.” Despite this setback, Tamekia is still hopeful and is looking forward to November 2021 when they will be able to celebrate the delayed 10th anniversary of Styles 4 Kidz.
Tamekia Swint and Styles 4 Kidz can be reached at 708-434-5680. To learn more about scheduling an appointment, attending a workshop, or making a donation, visit their website at www.styles4kidz.org.
by Nicole Sankowski | Aug 3, 2020 | Blog
After a necessary pause Expressions Graphics is happy to announce the fourth annual “Her Voice” art exhibition of women printmakers and guest artists, running from August 26 – October 17, 2020. This show will launch the emerging Ground Gallery shared studio space and welcomes women from different art backgrounds to engage and to interact.
Gabriella Boros who has shown her prints, paintings, and multimedia works nationally and internationally will jury the show. Born in Israel, Gabriella immigrated to the United States as a child. Her narratives reflect her European parentage, Israeli childhood and American influences. In 2019 Gabriella had solo shows at the Dittmar Gallery of Northwestern University and at Ze ZigZag Zone in Stockholm, Sweden. She also created a seven-print series for the performance of the Defiant Requiem which showed at The Whitney Gallery of Northern Illinois University.
Expressions Graphics will host opening and closing receptions online, tentatively scheduled for September 11 and October 17. Watch for updates on in-person visits.
www.expressionsgraphics.org
Pictured are the winners of the 2019 “Her Voice” Exhibit: Alex Brightbill, Liz Born, Tia Etu and Deirdre Britt
by Nicole Sankowski | Jun 29, 2020 | Blog
By Kelly Pollock, feature writer for Buzz Cafe
Since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in March, every business in the Oak Park Arts District has been affected. Restaurants had to close their dining rooms, shops had to go online, and service businesses had to go virtual. Now that Illinois has entered Phase 4 of Governor Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, the Oak Park Arts District is slowly coming back to life, although “business as usual” means something very different than it did just a few months ago.
When restaurants and bars were ordered to close their dining rooms beginning March 17, it was supposed to last only through March 30. The initial two-week closure stretched into April and through to the end of May when outdoor dining with social distancing was allowed. The Village of Oak Park has been working with local businesses to facilitate outdoor dining in nontraditional ways. On Lombard Avenue just south of Harrison Street, MORA Asian Kitchen and Buzz Café now share an outdoor patio that was previously several metered parking spaces.
Retail businesses have also had to adapt. Val’s halla Records at 239 Harrison Street is open again with new safety procedures in place and an option to schedule a 30-minute private access time before or after regular store hours. Says manager Shayne Blakeley, “Not long ago this [pandemic] would have been the ‘death knell’ for the store, but Trevor and Jaxon Toppen and their whole contingent have worked ‘regardless of exhaustion.’ The website looks amazing, the stock is great, and more is on the way!”
Bead in Hand at 145 Harrison Street is another retailer that is thinking of new ways to accommodate customers and stay safe. Customers are asked to schedule an appointment for in-store shopping during regular business hours. Only two people are allowed in the store at one time. Drop-in customers are welcome if there is no appointment scheduled. The staff is happy to pull specific items ahead of time so that customers can spend their appointment time focusing on beads.
Despite the pandemic coinciding with the March grand opening of Studio 928 at 911 S. Lombard Avenue, Cheryl Vargas has continually found ways to make sure that everyone is making “Time for ART!” “Coupled with teaching virtual art classes, to-go kits have been our bread and butter,” says Cheryl. And while she is still offering virtual paint parties, the studio is now open for private in-person parties as well. The parties are limited to ten guests and masks are required. “We have become very popular with companies and small businesses who want to offer their employees a much needed creative break.”
Needing to go virtual hasn’t stopped Gigi Hudson and everyone at The Actors Garden at 909 S. Lombard Avenue from sharing their love of theatre. “We have been doing virtual classes and workshops since March. It has been surprisingly fun and feedback from the families has been great,” says Gigi. They are also running their four-week summer theatre camps virtually. The first session has 50 students working on two musicals that were written specifically to be performed online. “One of the musicals, Through the Screen, was written entirely by our playwright-in-residence Dave Hudson and will see its world premiere with us in July.” Session two begins on July 20 and still has a few spots open.
At L’Institut français d’Oak Park at 11 Harrison Street, everything has gone virtual as well. “Our classes are being taught via Zoom and our students are thankful to be able to continue learning and see their classmates each week,” says owner Stacy Fifer. Conversation Café which is usually held in person at Léa in Downtown Oak Park is also convening via Zoom and people have attended from around the world. Recently, there were participants from Sante Fe, New Mexico; Whidbey Island near Seattle; Montreal, Canada; and Limoges, France. In the fall, L’Institut will use a combination of in-person and online methods to connect with students.
Unfortunately, some businesses weren’t able to survive in “brick and mortar” form due to the pandemic. Jake’s Place Books which opened eighteen months ago at 142 Harrison Street has closed their storefront but will continue as a virtual presence. As Bill Fletcher, a co-owner of Jake’s said, “The store was so small and the virus is so present that we just couldn’t figure out a way to reopen and be safe. We loved being a part of the Arts District community and will consider ourselves a virtual member through our continuing online sales.”
So whether you’re looking to dine, shop, create, or learn, the businesses of the Oak Park Arts District are ready and waiting. Put on a mask, stay six feet apart, and be safe!
by Nicole Sankowski | Jun 15, 2020 | Blog
While the world pressed “pause” during the COVID-19 shutdown, the team at Val’s halla kept spinning behind the scenes. Over the course of the shutdown, the store went virtual with the launch of a well-stocked online store and Vinyl Views – a new email newsletter featuring music recommendations from the store team as well as a great lineup of guest contributors. You can sign up for Vinyl Views here: valshallarecords.com/stay-connected/
“The fun of coming to Val’s has always been about discovering hidden gems and chatting with our store team to share in the love of all kinds of music,” says store owner Trevor Toppen. “With the launch of Vinyl Views and our online store, we’re finding ways to provide some of that same experience in a virtual way, and make it easier for customers to stay connected and participate in our community.”
On May 29, 2020, the brick and mortar store re-opened to customers with a number of new health and safety practices in place, but the online store and Vinyl Views now provide customers a wider range of ways to interact with the store.
Each week, the store sales team (Shayne and Jaxon) each pick 3 albums and share a little bit about why they are recommending them. Additionally, each edition of Vinyl Views features 3 picks from guest contributors who range from seasoned local musicians, to up-and-coming young artists, to nationally acclaimed recording artists.
The store also invites anyone interested in being a Vinyl Views guest contributor to get in touch. Contributing is easy – you simply pick 3 albums and write a few sentences about why you are recommending them.
A subscription to Vinyl Views also ensures subscribers are the first to know when the store acquires exciting lots of used and new merchandise. Plus, subscribers get tips about upcoming happenings such as in-store scavenger hunts, National Record Store Day special offers, special listening events, and the eventual return of live music performances.
“We’re working with a wide range of local partners to plan special events and promotions,” Toppen says. “We are committed to our mission to build an intentionally inclusive and inter-generational community that cultivates a love for all music.”
Don’t miss a beat – sign up for Vinyl Views today and join the community.
by Nicole Sankowski | Mar 31, 2020 | Blog
By Kelly Pollock, feature writer for Buzz Cafe
Cheryl Vargas, the self-proclaimed Creative in Chief at Studio 928, is on a one-woman mission to give everyone permission to take “Time for Art.” Her new studio at 911 S. Lombard Avenue in the Oak Park Arts District will celebrate its grand opening in March and will give budding artists plenty of opportunities to nurture their creative side.
While Cheryl has created art her whole life, she never believed that she could be an artist because “artists don’t make any money and nobody takes them seriously.” It wasn’t until she was enrolled in the graphic arts program at Concordia University and her professor BettyAnn Mocek said to her, “Cheryl, you’re an artist,” that she finally believed in her abilities. “She told me that,” says Cheryl, “and all these things from my past started flashing before my eyes. I suddenly realized she was right!”
While she was in school, Cheryl attended the annual Self Employment in the Arts Conference and learned about “paint and sip parties” for the first time. Immediately, she knew that it was the right business idea for her. After graduating in May 2018, she started pricing supplies and putting together her social media marketing strategy. Her first party was at Bfit Fitness in Oak Park just a month later.
Soon after that, she reached out to Jim Cozzens at Hamburger Mary’s and he hosted her and her parties for almost two years until she decided that “it was time to keep my eyes and ears open to the possibility of opening my own space.” Cheryl ultimately decided to work with a commercial realtor who found the available location on Lombard. “When I walked in the door, I knew it was the space I wanted. I’ve been envisioning a brick wall for two years. The Bitmoji on my website shows me standing in front of one—so the brick wall in the space sold it for me.”
Giving herself and others a permanent place to make time for art is what most excites Cheryl about transitioning from being a mobile artist to one with studio space. “One of my biggest frustrations as an artist is making time for art. If I, as an artist, can’t find time, then imagine everybody else who can’t find time. Art is so important because it nurtures your soul. It’s soul food.”
The new studio will offer lots of options for people seeking a creative outlet. Drop-in painting will be available for $25 for a two-hour session and will include all materials—a canvas, paint, and a brush. When the weather is nice, “painting alfresco” will be available in the garden behind the building. Memberships will also be available for $75 and will include four sessions per month. If someone doesn’t use all their sessions, then they can donate the unused sessions back to the studio, and Cheryl will make them available for teenagers to use free of charge.
For people who can’t stay to paint, “painting to go kits” will be available. These will include materials as well as an image to paint and access to an online video with instruction from Cheryl. And of course, Cheryl will continue to offer the “paint and sip parties” that started it all. Private parties costs $40 per person and require a minimum of fifteen people. All materials are included and BYOB is allowed as long as the event is not open to the public.
The grand opening celebration on March 14 will kick off at 7:00 am with a free creative jazz abstract class for the first 35 people. A ribbon cutting, gift certificates, and drop-in painting memberships for a special introductory price of $40 will round out the event.
Surrounded by her family, Cheryl held a blessing for her new venture shortly after signing the lease. Led by her cousin DaJuan Fondren who is a pastor in Indiana, the group prayed that Cheryl’s hopes for her studio would be realized. “I want this to be a place where people can give themselves permission to take time for art. A place where people feel comfortable and where there is a sense of community.”
Cheryl Vargas and Studio 928 can be found at 911 S. Lombard Avenue where everyone is encouraged to take “Time for Art.” She can be reached at 312-371-9526 or through her website at www.studio928.net.
