We are so very grateful for all the friends we have made over the years and all the wonderful artists we have met and that have supported our efforts at Out of the Box. Out of the Box has closed its doors for the last time and will not reopen.
Thank You and Farewell
John Putnam is an Oak Park resident and a long time participant at Out of the Box Art Market.
Putnam Design
Putnam loves classic functional pottery for its shape and form, the kind of shapes that find their way into museums — simple but highly valued. He likes the idea that he can create something that will be used daily and enhance someone’s life and may even last 1000 of years.
Putnam says, “I create functional and decorative pottery. For me the shape is most important with glaze, texture and brush painting secondary to the shape. I have studied classical Chinese Brush Painting for almost 40 years from Monica Liu and that work finds a canvas on some of my pottery. I feel that the piece has to speak for its self and they will find a home with one that listens to that voice. My work is simple but not plain, with possibly an oriental feel. “
Putnam has the distinction of being the only Out of the Box Artist sporting mutton chops!
Born and raised in Oak Park lives two blocks away from Out of the Box Art Market and has participated in the Art Market almost every year! She has always loved accessories, especially jewelry. So after getting a degree in nursing and business, she decided to do what she really loves and make jewelry.
Buckingham just opened a solo show at the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Elmhurst, IL. Her work is for sale there also.
Krueger is a felter and makes one of a kind hats, fantastic vests and scarves.
She was introduced to felting about five years ago at the Lillstreet Art Center and was immediately hooked. She started working at home on her kitchen butcher block counter making flat pieces and eventually learned how to make hats and bags. She graduated to Nuno Felting—a technique where you coax wool fibers through other fabrics such as silk, rayon and cotton to create a unique textile. An inspiring workshop in Tuscany with Mai Hvistendahl (a Norwegian felter) gave her a beginning in creating clothing from Nuno felt.
She continues to explore the ancient art of felting and takes at least one felting workshop a year to study with felting icons all over the world.
Besides being an accomplished felter, Krueger has raised two daughters (her daughter Frances is also at Out of the Box), worked as a musician and also spent 7 years in southwest China (Sichuan) teaching English. We love the homemade hummus she makes for us each year! Visit her website for more info.
Perry’s line of fashionable aprons was inspired by her career as a professional cook. She loves to host, cook for and entertain friends at dinner parties. She found herself looking dull and dingy after cooking for a party, while everyone else looked fresh and festive. She took some of her favorite’ dresses and reconstructed them into aprons which became the birth of Ann Perry Designs.
Ann Perry Designs is bringing self-care back in the fold of life via the kitchen and hosting.
It’s An Apron, You Don’t Have To Cook, Just Wear it!
By Tina Tuszynski
Sometimes it’s the small gifts that can be the toughest to find. Trying to find something unique yet useful for hostess gifts, your children’s teachers, and your assistant at work can be challenging. And it’s always nice to have a bunch of stocking stuffers as well! Come shop at Out of the Box Art Market at 109 North Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park this weekend – you’ll find a nice selection of artisan crafted items for under $25, as well as at all price ranges! Here’s just a sampling of what you’ll find:
Who doesn’t like chocolate? And it’s even better when it’s made locally, using all natural ingredients! These scrumptious chocolate and caramel sauces from Grown Up Kid Stuff come in a variety of flavors, are all priced under $25!
Your furry babies will love these handmade toys crafted from fleece fabric and faux fur by Critter Projects. And when you buy these cat and dog toys, 100% of the profits will help fund animal care efforts, such as beds and toys for shelter cats and dogs.
Love these magnet sets from Riesen Photography, featuring selections of photography images such as the Beatles, city scenes, and sports teams. A set of six themed magnets is only $12.95.
These handmade pillow covers make a quirky, colorful gift and are great ways to add a fresh new look to any room. Each cover features original hand-drawn and custom designed organic cotton sateen fabric on front, coordinating solid on back, by local artist Shawn Sargent.
Also by Shawn Sargent, these Snappy Sketches are sturdy pouches that can be utilized for carrying miscellaneous items. Use the easy pull tabs and “voila,” it opens and snaps shut when released. Bags feature original drawings and designs on organic cotton sateen fabric, and are machine quilted for extra padding. The Medium Tablet is a colorful carry case for small PC Tablets, iPads, books and school supplies. Jazz up your smart phones with the Smart Phone Snappy or use it with the Small Snappy for gift cards, cosmetics, toys, art supplies, or all those loose items in your purse. Any size makes a fun holiday gift, filled with goodies.
Unique ornaments and key chains made from recycled corks for the wine lover from Donna Zommer Cork Art. Ornaments $9.95 each and keychain only $6.95 each.
Beautiful and unique handmade coasters, magnets, pendants, and ornaments featuring original photography of the Chicago area by Reformado Photography.
Handcrafted glass ornaments feature reproductions of the original artwork of Scott Stoltman, for only $17 each.
Repurposed cigar boxes from Omar’s Cigars can be used as a jewelry box, a man’s catchall for his dresser, an office container, or more. They range in price from $15 to $40.
Many of our artists also have a great selection of beautiful jewelry priced at $25 or under, such as these festive mini-earrings from Objets d’envy, or unique key fobs from Erin Rose Designs. 
Out of the Box Art Market, 109 North Oak Park Avenue in downtown Oak Park, is open Saturdays and Sundays, 10am till 6pm, two more weekends: December 14th & 15th, and December 21st & 22nd. Shop local from over 20 different artists for unique, one of a kind gifts for yourself and others!
please note not all artists are present all weekends.
Some of the artists have donated their artwork to our raffle. Receive a raffle ticket each time you purchase from one of the artists. The prizes include original pastel painting, recycled wool trees, wine, pet beds and more!
Donate adult size winter coats, scarves, gloves and receive a raffle ticket in exchange. Share the warmth!
From a literary perspective, Steampunk first made its appearance in the early 1980s when authors such as William Gibson, James Blaylock and Tim Powers were coming into public recognition. Rather than concentrate on dystopian futures, which was popular at that time, they chose to concentrate on a more raptured and romantic past. These modern writers forged forward with Steampunk as a classification of science fiction where technologies were emerging out of sync with our timeline and societies were struggling to cope.
From a fashion standpoint, Steampunk embraces this sci-fi origin and combines it with a love of history. It is anachronistic so that the individual can gravitate towards the historical items and clothing of his or her choosing. The most prominent is Victorian era styling. The second most prominent is early American Western and the third is Art Nouveau.
Steampunk is an ideological rebellion where in people cannot be pigeon holed into one category. It is a fantasy world, yes, but it is also an incredibly hopeful and historical world. So rather than concentrating on Victorian oppressive behaviors and early American Western injustices and prejudices, the wearer, rather, chooses to recall the romance of those era as well as the science available in those eras.
One can be anything in the safety of those guidelines. But they are just guide lines. I can be a Victorian explorer with all of the dirigibles that take me there even if I choose to have an Elizabethan ruff and early Viking gauntlets.
More to the point, it’s not exclusively about the fashions, but also about the science and technology as seen through the early Victorian/American Western eye. This is where the brass, cogs and steam power comes into play.
I’ve often heard people say that “Steampunk is the world through the Victorian eye” whereupon the world can be romantic, nostalgic, cheeky and interesting. In all of the hum drum of daily living, I think we can all use a little fantasy…especially one that is safe, creative and totally limitless. I think those who brought about the Steampunk trend yearned for a uniqueness that the 1980s would not allow. Now? We drone about with technology and forget about how incredibly lucky and fortunate we are to have convenience.
Thereto, I think the more modern Steampunker tends to give absolute reverence to days gone by when we were not so scientifically savvy – and we had to invent to stay current. We had to use our technology and be forward thinking even though it may not have always worked. (As a tangent, I feel this coincides with the modern trend of Zombie Apocalypse obsession. We all secretly have a fear of being senseless drones, I feel. And it’s apparent to me that the Steampunk revolution is at its most basic thing – a need to discover the self and beyond rather than lose that.)
Subsequently, if there were to be a “rule” for Steampunk it would be that there must be an illusion of functionality. My mentor, Thomas Willeford (pictured below) has a wonderful book out called “Steampunk: Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos” that covers the trend in much more detail. My favorite quote is that Steampunk is not simply “a cog on a stick”.
Funnily enough, I sometimes am drawn to that. But it’s not to taint the lovely waters of the Steampunk trend. I love watch gears. I do try to have an illusion of functionality in all of my pieces….but sometimes…I just like to wear a gear on my neck and cherish that moment in time and space and own that.
The work right now reveals to what I have access. My inventions are on a smaller scale than say a steam powered arm or a flying machine. But, I can solder and shape, sculpt and paint.
Belt Buckle by Erin Rose Designs
I don’t have giant machines – yet. I can imagine and create. And that is the essence of what I love most about this genre. I don’t have to be limited in my materials. I can always invent and reinvent and beyond.
boxartists.wordpress.com 