The Heart of Enos Park

The Springfield Art Association, located north of downtown Springfield, is in the Enos Park neighborhood. What used to be the "Jewel of Springfield" now hosts more than 88 vacant lots, boarded-up homes, and many of the properties are in poor condition. That's not to say there aren't some incredible improvements made and maintained by the Enos Park residents, including drastic renovations, community parks, and wonderfully-restored homes throughout the neighborhood.

There has been a significant amount of press regarding the Enos Park neighborhood, including the transformation of the current campus to become a Cultural campus for the entire city, with a proposed three-to-four-story building for educational space and administrative offices.

Learn more: Read the SJ-R article for more information and where to attend tonight's master plan unveiling meeting.

Join us for a Victorian Seance at Edwards Place!

People holding hands around a table...mysterious rappings and tappings...tables shaking...messages from beyond the grave...these eerie and possibly supernatural occurrences were going on in dining rooms throughout the United States in the 19th century, and millions of Americans dabbled with Spiritualism.

Spiritualism is a religious philosophy that believes, among other things, that the human spirit survives after death and is able to communicate with the living through use of a medium. This philosophy became incredibly popular in America in the wake of the Civil War, in which millions of people mourned lost husbands, brothers, fathers, sons, and sweethearts. Mary Lincoln was known to have hosted seances in the White House during her husband's presidency.

On November 20 and 21, Edwards Place will host a theatrical recreation of an authentic Victorian seance. Noted hypnotist and licensed clairvoyant Amye Scharlau of Minneapolis will be the "medium", who will lead participants in trying to contact the spirits of the dearly departed, including the Lillie Judd, whose portrait hangs in the dining room. Will Ms. Scharlau be successful? You'll have to join us to find out!

Tickets are $25 per person. Price includes participation in the seance, a professional palm reading by Ms. Scharlau, wine, and hors d'oeuvres. Seating is limited to 10 people per session, and both sessions on November 20 are sold out. However, seats are still available for November 21 and 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. - call 217-523-2631 or email collections@springfieldart.org to register!

SAA in the News, part two!

Just a couple of weeks ago, the SAA was on the cover of the Illinois Times, with the article "Renaissance at the Art Association." Although it was a wonderful piece that followed Betsy Dollar, our Director, around for the week as she documented the different facets of our organization...there was a mistake made about the Edwards Place Historic Home.

The article states the following about the house:
"Edwards Place...is an elegant Italianate mansion once a center for social activity in Springfield...it is said that Lincoln courted his future wife, Mary Todd, at Edwards Place."

Well, not exactly...

Our Curator of Collections, Erika Holst, sets the record straight in the article "Lincoln Didn't Sleep Here," which was featured in the October 14 issue of the Illinois Times. To read the article, click here.

Haunted Nights of History

Hear voices from beyond the grave on October 21 and 22 as Edwards Place is haunted by the "ghosts" of the Edwards family and friends! These dearly departed 19th century Springfield citizens will share the often fascinating, occasionally macabre, and sometimes tragic stories of their lives and deaths.

The people you'll meet include the Edwards' friend Mary Jane Welles and her twin sister Julia Homes, who each lost five children as well as her husband; family friend Bettie Stuart, who died of dysentery at age 30; Elizabeth Edwards, who was Mary Lincoln's older sister and Benjamin Edwards' sister-in-law, and many more!

You will have a chance to sign up for tours of Oak Ridge Cemetery on Saturday October 23, where a guide will take you to the actual graves of the people portrayed at Edwards Place.

Refreshments and Halloween-themed craft activities will also be available.

Tickets are $4 per person and no reservations are required. Tours begin at 7 p.m. and are offered every 15 minutes, with the last tour at 9 p.m. Cemetery tours are an additional $3 per person and will be offered at 1, 2, and 3 p.m. on October 23.

SAA in the Media

The Springfield Art Association has been in the headlines recently, and we'd like to promote these articles, and where you can visit to frequently stay up-to-date with your favorite art club.

The Illinois Times
The SAA was a recent cover story of the Illinois Times, a weekly publication that delivers cultural, visual and performing arts news of the city. The article, "Renaissance at the Art Association," chronicles SAA's Executive Director Betsy Dollar hopes and dreams for the organization, as well as documenting the day-to-day of the Springfield Art Association, including tours of Historic Edwards Place and various art classes in our studios.



The State Journal-Register
After making headlines of its own earlier this year, Travis Taylor's "Sybia" sculpture has a new home--the SAA Sculpture Garden! Taylor's piece, a ten-foot sculpture made of found objects and welded pieces, was considered a traffic hazard by the city of Springfield. Taylor even mentioned the SAA as a destination for artists in the September 1st article, which sparked the SAA's involvement to serve as sanctuary for the work.

The sculpture is now on display along the SAA Administrative Building, between 4th & 5th Streets. It joins the buffalo sculpture, and the recently-installed Butterfly, made by our 2010 Summer Art Campers.

Holiday Workshops at the SAA!

Although the Springfield Art Association is surrounded by the wonderful changing leaves on the trees throughout the Edwards Place grounds, we are already in full holiday mode! We have some upcoming events that are sure to add a lot of extra holiday sparkle in your Winter Calendar. (Please note: All workshops and teas require advanced registration; please contact the SAA Office to register.)

Pumpkin Decorating Workshop.
Saturday, October 23rd, 10:30 to Noon.
Love Halloween, but prefer not to have gooey pumpkin seeds on your kitchen floor? Make a mess in the SAA's Condell Studio! We’ll supply the pumpkins & embellishments—just bring your friends and creativity to make your pumpkin a defright…er, delight!

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Wonderful Wreathes!
Saturday, November 20, 10:30am to 12:30pm.
There will be plenty of festive foliage, berries and other decorative embellishments that are sure to add a joyful addition to any door.

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Holiday Cards & Paper!
Saturday, December 4, 10:30am to 12:30pm.
Make and marble holiday cards, and use stamping techniques to create your own wrapping paper!

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Incredible Ornaments!
Saturday, December 11, 10:30am to 12:30pm.
From your first fold to the final finish, glitter to garland, you'll leave with plenty of tree-mendous trimmings!

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Groovy Gingerbread Houses!
Saturday, December 18, 10:30am to 12:30pm.
Gum drops and licorice and red hots, oh my! Each workshop participant will be given their own house, an decorative fixings, to make a splendid scene!

Again, for questions, tuition information or to register for any (or all!) of these programs, please contact the Education Department of the Springfield Art Association: 523-2631.

Tea-riffic Time at Edwards Place!

Edwards Place held its first Victorian Tea on Saturday, October 2, and by all accounts a delightful time was had by all!

Twenty-nine guests joined us in the sitting and dining rooms for tea and treats - the same room where Helen Edwards entertained prominent Springfield citizens such as Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, Stephen Logan, and John T. Stuart more than a century and a half ago!

P.G. Tips tea (a favorite in England) was served in china teapots and teacups. The menu included curried chicken salad sandwiches on croissants; cream cheese, cucumber, and mint sandwiches on white bread; apple butter and cheddar sandwiches on wheat; and cream cheese sandwiches on zucchini bread, along with a tasty selection of fruit and desserts.

The Tea Ladies of Bloomington were on hand in their Victorian finery to present an interactive program on outrageous etiquette of the 19th century. Guests learned arcane but amusing tidbits such as why it was improper to chew on the end of one's umbrella and why one should secure one's baby in the carriage rather than bring it in when making a social call.

If you missed the fun on October 2, there is good news - Edwards Place is hosting a Christmas Tea on December 11 at 2 p.m. and there is still plenty of time to sign up! This tea will focus on the splendor of Victorian Christmas traditions, and the Tea Ladies will be back share details of holiday preparations in the 19th century, right down to the tradition of eating chocolate cockroaches! Afterwards, guests will have an opportunity to shop at the Art Association's annual Holiday Hall event, where local artists and artisans will sell their one-of-a-kind wares.

Tickets are $25 per person. Call 217-523-2631 or email collections@springfieldart.org to reserve your spot before November 29.