The Empty Corner

Congratulations to our winning artists for the 2024 Arlington Heights Plein Air Festival! Winning 1st place was John Sheck, with 2nd place going to Steve Puttrich and 3rd place to Kirsten Carlson. We would also like to recognize Lillian F. as a fantastic student artist in D214!

We are honored that you shared your talent with us, and are blown away by the beauty captured in your pieces. We are proud to have so many amazing artists in our community!

These pieces will be available to view until September 13th, so stop by to see this amazing artwork in person!
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We would like to introduce and thank our three judges, who helped make this event happen! Our first judge is Gary Drake, who has taught art at Hersey High School for over 30 years and has inspired many young artists in the community to explore what they love. Our second judge is Pamela Smith, a healer and a multifaceted artist whose talents encompass fiber art, apparel and fabric design, painting, metal smithing, and jewelry design. Last but not least is Liz Schrenk, owner and founder of ! Liz taught high school Art in District 214 for years and is passionate about supporting the arts in our community. 
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Today is our second birthday!! It’s hard to believe that we are already TWO years old, what a beautiful ride it has been growing this business along with you since we first opened in 2022. Thank you for supporting us and all of our crazy ideas, we really love all of you and are so thankful, we believe the best is yet to come!! 2️⃣🖤
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Love the creativity going on in this community! 🥰🥰🥰

Calling all local artists! Registration for our second-annual Plein Air Festival is still open, you can still sign up to be a part of this fun week of art making in Arlington Heights! 🎨🖼
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We are so grateful to our dear friend Karen from who is one of our event sponsors. Karen continuously inspires us with her art and passion. Karen is kindly contributing to our Plein Air Festival and will also hold a couple of live demonstrations throughout the run of this festival! Karen is a wonderful teacher and committed to bringing artists together, we are thankful for her ongoing support of The Empty Corner!
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As one of our sponsors Karen will be hosting a fun event called “Pens and Pubs”, a great opportunity for artists to meet, paint, and chat over a drink! Join Karen and at on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21st. All registered Plein Air artists are welcome! Bring your art supplies and come thirsty, we can’t wait to see the artwork created during this fun event!!🍻
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Calling all local artists! Our registration for the upcoming Plein Air festival is still open and taking new artists every day! 🎨🖼
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Special thanks to our sponsors Shaunna Burhop and The Burhop Group for supporting our upcoming Plein Air Festival! Their generosity makes this event possible, and we appreciate Shaunna’s ongoing support in our efforts to bring more culture to Arlington Heights. We can’t wait to see the beautiful artwork created during this festival! 🖼
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We are awarding cash prizes for First ($300) Second ($200) and Third ($100) place winners! Winners will be announced during our Opening Reception on Friday, August 30th at 7:00 PM. We hope to see you all there!
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Join us on Thursday, August 22nd for the Opening Reception of Soul Journey - A Metamorphosis on Canvas! Local artist Christina Klamer documents the metamorphosis of an artist’s journey to heal the ego one decade at a time.
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Explore the inner self through women’s silhouettes on canvas created by nature, line and florals. Christina Inspiring emotions that speak to all humans as a conscious awakening of how doing what makes your soul happy is a direct reflection of being in spiritual alignment.
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This in-person event promises to be a unique journey of self-discovery and expression. Enjoy cocktails and charcuterie while having canvas conversations. You can reserve your spot with the link in the bio!
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Our upcoming Night Market is officially one week away! ⭐️ Stop by next Friday, August 16th between 7 PM and 10 PM to browse and shop through a variety of handmade work.
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We have a few new vendors who have joined in on the party! We are so excited to add permanent jewelry, a photo booth, AND a bouquet bar to our already fun collection of ceramics, sweets, woodwork, jewelry, prints, stickers, candles, and much more!
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Vendors include:

drinks








margwizart

Christascards

Join us at the “Chicago Favorites” version of the Vinyl Listening Party THIS Thursday at 7 pm! The will be spinning and listening to vinyls that YOU bring and share. This months theme is the Windy City, so grab your favorite tunes connected to Chicago. It can be a band, an individual artist, a producer, or any song that celebrates the deep history of our beloved city 🏙
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This event is FREE and for adults. Register by clicking the link in the bio and let us know you’re coming! See you there 🖤
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Did you know most cocktails we drink today are based on classic cognac cocktails? Learn more about the history of cognac and make some drinks at our upcoming cocktail class with the one and only ! Grab a bottle and a friend to join us either September 5th or 6th for a night of crafted tunes and cocktails. This class will begin at 7 PM, and will be FULL of knowledge and tasty drinks!
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This class is great for date night, and is $75 per couple. There will be four cocktails to share and pair with a unique vinyl dedicated to each one to set the tone. Whether you’re new to making cocktails or simply hoping to hone in on your mixology skills, this is the class for you!
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Click the link in our bio to grab a ticket!
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Join us for our first ever Drum Circle at , hosted by djembe performer Victoria Boateng! This event will be taking place on Monday, August 19th at 6:30 PM, and everyone is invited, no experience necessary! A drum circle is a communal gathering where group participation and connection through the beat is emphasized and explored. There are several benefits to attending a drum circle, including stress relief, community building, boosted creativity, and improved rhythm! Tickets are $15 per person, and a drum will be provided.
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 is an autism advocate. Victoria was diagnosed with autism when she was three years old and couldn’t speak until she was 7 years old. Victoria uses her gift of djembe to inspire the autism community and women of all races, gender, and creed. Victoria Boateng studied West African drumming with master drummer Bolokoda Conde and Michael Taylor. Victoria is now a substitute teacher at Old Town School Of Folk Music and drum teacher at Ruth Page Center for the Arts. She is also an apprentice performer/drummer in an all female drum and dance company Ayodele Drum and Dance and She Wolf Sacred Movement.
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Are you coming to our on Friday August 16?? Come thirsty and visit THE cutest lemonade stand for a great cause! We will have fresh and refreshing homemade lemonade available for purchase — cool down and sip on lemonade while you shop, all proceeds will benefit 🍋
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Good Neighbors Network serves local students in need by supporting them throughout the year by providing essentials like school supplies, hygiene kits and holiday gifts to help uplift families and make a positive substantial impact. Your lemonade donation will make a big difference in the lives of local children in need! And don’t forget to bring a flask of your favorite *add-in* to spice up your lemonade and get the party started while you shop!! 🍋
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Join us tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM to “Explore Into the Unknown” with ! This will be a night full of eclectic art and good company. We have had such a blast getting to know this young local artist over the past year and we are proud to have seen them come such a long way in their artistic journey. Morgan has over 30 pieces to show for their hard work, which will all be available to view and buy!
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Morgan will answer questions about their pieces early in the night, and food and drink will be available while you browse through their pieces. We hope to see you there!
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We are incredibly excited to announce our second upcoming Plein Air Festival! is a French term that translates to “open air” or out-of-doors. Stepping out of the four walls of a studio and experiencing paintings centered within the landscape is a centuries-old practice with incredible history.
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Whether it’s your first time trying it out or if you consider yourself a seasoned veteran in the art of plein air, we welcome you to join us! Register online (link in profile) and get your materials stamped on SUNDAY, AUGUST 18th to participate. All paintings or drawings MUST be created outdoors from direct observation within the boundaries of Arlington Heights. Pieces must be brought back to The Empty Corner no later than August 25th for the juried exhibition. The Opening Reception will take place on Friday, August 30th. This show will be up until September 13th and open for the public to view!
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More detailed information can be found on our website or in the link in our bio!
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Check out our exciting vendor lineup for our upcoming Night Market! ⭐️We’ve got a fun mix of creatives who will be selling their pieces on August 16th from 7-10 PM. End the summer by browsing through a collection of ceramics, woodwork, jewelry, prints, stickers, candles, and much more! Right in our very own midwest suburbs 🏘
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Vendors include

drinks










We will post any vendor updates we may have in the future!
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We are so excited to have all three of these woman-owned businesses take the lead this weekend at vintage pop-up! This two-day event will have it all- vintage clothing procured by Maddy Kim from MadsolVintage, yummy charcuterie by Kristie from , and stylish permanent jewelry by Michelle from . We hope you stop by and show your support for these local ladies this Saturday and Sunday.
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This event will take place Saturday, July 13th and Sunday, July 14th from 12-3 PM at . See you there!
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We still have tickets for our upcoming summer camp with ! Creative Clay Camp is the perfect opportunity for your child to learn more about ceramics, all while making their own pieces from start to finish! This first week will focus on creating unique trinket dishes personalized to everyone’s hobbies and interests, followed by learning about glazing and firing pieces.
This class is perfect for kids and teenagers between the ages of 8 and 14.
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This is a TWO-DAY workshop.
*Thursday, July 25th from 9 AM - 11:30 AM
*Friday, July 26th from 9 AM - 11:30 AM
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We will learn about:
- The different types of clay
- The difference between glaze and underglaze
- Different techniques used to shape clay
- Why we use kilns
And so much more!
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Tickets are available in the link in our bio!
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Join us for a special upcoming pop-up exhibition: “Potpourri” by artist Manju Parkavi! This show will be running from July 18th to July 21st, with an opening reception on Friday, July 19th at 6:30 PM! Meet this incredible local artist and view her soulful and vibrant works. Manju’s paintings and drawings capture beauty through a range of human experiences through the lens of culture and femininity. We are honored to feature this talented artist and can’t wait to see her work on display in our space! 🖤
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is BACK for another vintage market ! Stop by on July 13th & 14th to browse through a collection of vintage dresses, shoes, accessories, and so much more! This is the perfect event to level up your wardrobe and find some new pieces you will love this summer.
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Joining will be with one of her yummy cheeseboard, as well as supplying permanent jewelry! You don’t want to miss this lovely event 💕
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Looking for a fun and interactive camp for your kids to join this summer? Look no further! Join us for our first week of Creative Clay Camp, taking place July 25th and 26th. Kids will learn all about pottery, clay, and creativity with Mine from . This first week, we will be creating some cute one-of-a-kind dishes, alongside some miniature versions of interests and favorites. This is just the first week of camp, and more projects will be announced soon!
For kids 8-14
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This is a TWO-DAY workshop.
* Thursday, July 25th from 9 AM - 11:30 AM
* Friday, July 26th from 9 AM - 11:30 AM
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Tickets and more information is available in the link in our bio! ⬆️
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There are only a few days left to come in and view our 100 Under $100 exhibition! It’s been an amazing month and we feel so grateful to have had so many wonderful local pieces in our space. Come in anytime during open hours before June 30th to get a last glimpse of this special community exhibition. You don’t want to miss it!
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Calling all creatives and small businesses in the Arlington Heights area! Our SUMMER NIGHT MARKET is taking place on the evening of Friday, August 16th, and we are currently accepting applications for vendors! There are only a limited amount of spots, so make sure to send us an email at [email protected] and introduce us to your work or unique business! We would love to give the community the opportunity to shop small and support local businesses this summer. We hope to hear from you soon!
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We are so excited to announce our first three-day summer arts workshop this July: “Zine Making” with Megan Senate! This is a three-day workshop beginning on Monday, July 15, and ending on Wednesday, July 17. Each day will have a new activity to work on and will take place from 9AM - 12PM. This workshop is designed for children between the ages of 9 and 14.
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Megan will teach us all about making Zines — small, handmade booklets crafted from a single piece of paper. These are perfect for creating small stories, comics, or even mini journals. The best part is that they can be unfolded and easily scanned to be copied and shared!
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This class is designed for kids between the ages of 9 and 14. One ticket is $100 and is for all three days, with all supplies covered. Learn more by clicking the link in our bio!
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Seas the day and decorate some beach-themed cookies with us this June! Join Cathy from on Friday, June 28th at 7:00 PM to enjoy a set of 6 summer favorites to take home!
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This class is for the beginner “cookier” or for the person who is just curious about what cookie decorating is all about! In this 2-hour class, we’ll cover the basics of sugar cookies (so – yes, it’s beginner-friendly!), do some piping practice with Royal Icing, talk about how to strategize the best ways to decorate sugar cookies, and cover the general concepts around dough and icing! You’ll leave class with a great understanding of the basics of sugar cookies plus a few cool techniques to use in the future.
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This event is BYOB. Tickets are available in the link in our bio!
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It’s been a little over a week since we had our Opening Reception for this year’s 100 Under $100! We still have some AMAZING pieces that are up for sale and available to view until June 30th. Make sure you pop in this month to celebrate local artists and bring a handmade piece home!
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All the artworks highlighted in this post are available and for sale! Artists are mentioned down below:
- .shmeve
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- Holly Jansen
- Izzy Frye
- Gary Drake
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Join Kristie from on June 20th at 7:00 PM for a new class that combines both beautiful blooms and bakes! These cute cupcakes are the perfect dessert to enjoy this summer; bring a friend and a bottle of your favorite wine and enjoy an evening of flowers and sweets! 🌸🧁
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All participants will decorate and keep a dozen assorted chocolate and vanilla cupcakes to practice on in this workshop. Kristie will teach you TWO different frosting piping techniques. An assortment of fresh flowers will be available for you to decorate with to create your own bouquet of bakes! A take-home box will be provided.
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This event is BYOB. Tickets are available in the link in our bio!! 🎟
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Join us at 10 AM on Saturday, June 20th to pack up some dorm essentials kits! Many teens in our community are the first generation in their families to head to college, and we would love to make their move a little easier and show them our support! These kits will include necessary supplies such as sheets, fans, and toiletries to make moving in a little less stressful.
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We need YOUR help to pack up and show our support!! Join us for a fun morning of working together to serve our community; we can’t wait to see you there!
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Sign up by clicking the link in our bio.
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Join Cathy from on Friday, June 7th at 7:00 PM to decorate an extra special vanilla cake just in time for summer! 🎂
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This class is the perfect opportunity to learn about the art of icing and to enhance your cake-decorating skills. No previous experience is necessary, so whether you’re a beginner or have dabbled in cake decorating before, we invite you to join us and add a bit of sweetness to your table!
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Participants will take home a personalized cake in an elegant white bakery box, making it the perfect treat to serve this June! 😉
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