We’re a newly formed, multi-county group of

artists, galleries, studios, and arts organizations

working together to further build a more

vibrant, inclusive, and visible

arts presence in Southern Illinois.

ADD YOUR VOICE TO OUR SURVEY

ORGANIZERS

MICHELE AITCHISON

GALLERY 111, MARION

Michele Aitchison is an artist, oil painter, tattooist and co-owner of Gallery 111, a family-run gallery in Marion, Illinois. She co-hosts Art in the Garden, an annual outdoor arts and music event that aims to bring people together through art, as well as Art Social, a weekly meetup now in its third year. She is a team member of the Southern Illinois Arts Collective and curates 618 Create, a local arts and inspiration feed. Michele is dedicated to creating energy around the arts in Southern Illinois and cultivating creative communities through the work she does.

A person with short, curly white hair and glasses stands in front of a large red and blue 'LOVE' sculpture outside a building. They are smiling, wearing a beige blazer over a graphic t-shirt, black pants, and gold shoes, with their arms raised and spread wide.

A.B. Art

ARTHAUS, DUQUOIN

A.B. is an artist and performer with a background in teaching, performing, and running bars/restaurants. This mix of creativity, personality, and business savvy makes them a good fit for projects that entail live performance (public speaking, teaching/training, spoken word, and storytelling) and visual arts (illustration, comics, collage, painting and murals). As far as day jobs go, they work for John A. Logan College and SIU as a public speaking instructor and moonlight as a bartender and performer.

Missy Carstens

ARTISTS GATHERING AT GLACIER’S END, MARION

Missy Carstens is a local artist, art teacher, volunteer arts administrator, and musician, serving in these capacities for over 31 years.

After retiring from teaching and volunteer arts administration, Missy felt the need to help create a welcoming, inclusive community for artists to gather in a relaxing, supportive environment. Another goal was to create more visibility for Southern Illinois artists and arts venues. To help meet these goals, she co-founded the Artists Gathering at Glacier’s End in Marion, and also met 5 other artists with similar goals, co-forming the Southern Illinois Arts Collective.

Jennifer COlboth

BITS & PIECES ART AND ANTIQUES, MARION

Jennifer Colboth, a self-taught hand-cut collage artist and owner of Bits & Pieces Art and Antiques in downtown Marion, is also the creator of Art Snacks, a community arts initiative built around the belief that creativity belongs to everyone.

Jennifer is passionate about connecting the region’s artists, makers, organizations, businesses, and creative spaces. She believes Southern Illinois already has a vibrant creative community—and that by helping people find and support one another, the arts can become an even stronger and more visible part of the region.

She believes the Collective is about recognizing what is already here and discovering what becomes possible when we bring those pieces together.

A woman with short blonde hair, wearing a black wide-brimmed hat, black jacket, and a graphic T-shirt, is laughing with her mouth open inside a restaurant or café with warm-colored walls and string lights. There is a framed picture of a kangaroo on the wall behind her.

KIM NEEDHAM

ARTHAUS, DUQUOIN

Kim is a professional whose talents bounce between photography, performance, and community building like a kangaroo on a pogo stick. Known for their wacky approach, Kim captures the essence of life through a lens that sees beyond the ordinary -like spotting a unicorn in a field of horses. Whether in the middle of a bustling event or during the quiet moments of a photoshoot, Kim brings a unique flair that transforms the mundane into the magical. Beyond photography, Kim's love for clowning at special events or parties adds a layer of whimsy, making them a beacon of giggles and connection through their eccentric adventures. Kim not only breaks barriers but also builds bridges, creating experiences that celebrate the beauty of human interaction and creativity, with a dash of silliness and a sprinkle of confetti.

STEPHANIE SUSIE

ARTSCO, HARRISBURG

Stephanie Susie is a professional photographer, lifelong Southern Illinois resident, and collector of all art supplies who has never met an artsy fartsy project she didn’t want to get involved in.

With 22 years of professional photography under her belt, Stephanie has spent most of her career photographing people, places, and the occasional mythological creature. In 2023, she helped create ARTSCO, the Saline County arts council, because she apparently didn’t have enough to do with her time.

These days, she continues to make photographs, make questionable creative decisions, support other artists, and generally encourage the idea that there should be more art happening around here. She believes small towns deserve big ideas, artists deserve a place at the table, and there is almost certainly a weird little project around the corner.