History of the Guild
Since its beginning in April 1967, the Oak Leaf Artist Guild (originally known as the Tri-County Independent Artists) has sought to “promote art in the area and sponsor art exhibits and sales.” Starting with 30 members from St. Charles, Warren and Lincoln counties, the guild now counts in the 70's, with members from all over the major St. Lous area and in Illinois. The first meetings were held at Fort Zumwalt Jr. High School where the first president, Jack Elmore, was an art teacher.
In order for prospective guild members to join, they had to attend a monthly meeting which usually included an artistic presentation or demonstration, and critiques on members’ works. Then the perspective member would have to show their artwork and be voted in by the current members; but once a member they were eligible to exhibit their work in several different venues such as: libraries, banks, shopping centers, and city halls. Artwork was also shown in local businesses, like restaurants and movie theaters; even a country club and a nursing home. They also took part in local parades by creating floats. Their float titled “Art Under Three Flags” created for the St. Charles Bi-Centennial Parade in 1969 won first place!
In 1970 the group changed its name to the O’Fallon Artist Guild and opened their own gallery, The O’Fallon Art Gallery. It was located on Main Street in O’Fallon, behind the Ginnie Lee Fabric Shop. Sadly, when the fabric shop moved in 1971 the art gallery lost its home, but that didn’t stop them. In 1978 the group changed its name for the last time to the Oak Leaf Artists Guild and still promotes art and artists in the area today.
(Coming soon)
See the photo gallery for a few historical highlights: Curtis Flood, a Cardinals baseball player, judging a guild art show in 1968; Woody White, guild member, working on one of twelve murals commissioned for the Mark Twain Mall in 1980; and Betty Harris, founding guild member, posing with one of her many winning paintings at an art show.
Written by Annette McGarrahan
