An Oak Park art studio that closed during the pandemic has made its return to the community on South Boulevard. Studio 928 opened in May, and is working toward making itself a destination for West Side and west suburban creatives.
Studio 928 offers a range of painting classes and creative team building activities. The studio also serves as an event space for private art parties and public exhibitions. Classes cost $44, with the promise of walking out of Studio 928, located at 451 South Blvd., with painting skills people can use long after the class is over.
Studio 928 also sells painting supplies and small, unique art items such as postcards and mini-animal shaped purses. The studio’s membership service, Club 928, includes member-only art classes and discounts.
Cheryl Vargas, the founder and “creative in chief,” said she has been looking for a new space for her studio for the last two-and-half years. She first opened Studio 928 in March 2020, at a space on Harrison Street in Oak Park. Eight days later, Vargas had to close because of the pandemic.
Although Vargas continued to teach art classes and corporate team-building events remotely, she said she always wanted a physical studio to have a space for creative collaboration.
“I have always seen Studio 928 as the community hub and home for art,” Vargas said. “Whether it’s visual arts, or poetry or jazz, people should come here and feel they’re in a place where the creative vibe is strong,”
Since the grand opening on May 18, Vargas said they have been settling into the neighborhood and preparing for upcoming classes and events.
On Fridays in June, Juneteenth themed “Mimic the Masters” painting classes will teach the history, and mimic popular paintings of African-American artists. Artists include Faith Ringgold, Lois Mailou Jones and Jacob Lawrence.
Vargas said Studio 928’s new private event offering, “Brides, Brushes, and Bubbly,” puts bridal parties behind brushes, and has the party paint a 24-by-48-inch canvas using the bride’s bridal colors.
Other classes, such as “Jazzy Abstracts” on Tuesday nights, and “The Ladies” on Wednesday nights, are all open for the public. In these painting classes, only three paint brushes are used, something Vargas said is all you need.
Vicki Scaman, the village of Oak Park president, has taken one of Vargas’ remote paint-and-sip classes in the past, and said Studio 928 will fit right into the community.
“Oak Park is a very creative community and very supportive of the arts and of small business. So, this is a perfect match,” Scaman said. “She brings a level of energy too that makes an experience – one where you believe you’re participating in something where she actually wants to be there with you.”
Camille Wilson White, executive director of the Oak Park Area Arts Council, said that she feels fortunate Oak Park is “rich in the arts.” Venues where people can learn how to create art are welcome additions to the community.
“Places like Cheryl’s are great, especially for people who don’t consider themselves to be artists… this is a perfect venue for them to go and dabble, experiment and see how they like it,” White said.
Vargas said she promises people will learn skills they can continue to use.
“I just want people to walk away with skills they can use over and over. And that’s the idea of Studio 928: to engage and collaborate with people to make sure they’re enjoying themselves. But, at the same time, give them art skills they can use again,” Vargas said.
Find out more about Studio 928’s classes, shop items, and more on their website at https://studio928.net/.