Our History

1991: Making Art and Being of Service in Chicago

Open Studio Project began in Chicago in 1991 with an intention: to make art and to be of service. OSP was the brain-and-heart-child of three art therapists who were also exhibiting artists: Dayna Block, Deborah Gadiel and Pat Allen. The three founders remained as committed to making art as they were to helping therapy clients. Realizing that they could only help others by engaging regularly with the creative process themselves, they launched a pilot project at a storefront gallery space in the River North area of Chicago. After which they incorporated as a non profit developed a business plan, and rented a space in Wicker Park, Chicago.

In the next 6 years they developed the “Open Studio Process” a unique and powerful tool for creating life-healing art in group settings.

2000: New Beginnings in Evanston, IL - Art & Social Service

The founders decided to close the Chicago Studio in 1999 and continue working with this process separately. Dayna worked to establish the Open Studio Project with a new beginning for OSP in Evanston, IL. Pat Allen opened a studio in Oak Park, IL while Deborah Gadiel continued her work in the Chicago neighborhood Pilsen.

In Evanston, Dayna was joined by Sarah Laing (then Lloyd-Still), then a recent graduate of the School of the Art Instititute’s Graduate Art Therapy Program and OSP participant. Soon after, Ted Harris, an artist (and later, a clinical psychotherapist) joined OSP. In addition to fee-based classes for kids and adults, Open Studio began collaborations with agencies and schools serving people of all backgrounds and ages, adapting and expanding the initial Open Studio Process. They added community to the original intention to make art and be of service.  The intention became to make art and be of service to our community. 

As the clear need for our services has increased, OSP has collaborated to provide programs for pre-K though High School, in school and out-of school. In addition OSP has served programs in collaboration with organizations serving: People in substance use disorder treatment, and mental health treatment; people living with developmental delays; people with visual impairment, people involved in the juvenile justice system, people who are experiencing homelessness.

Since 2000, OSP has grown steadily, serving thousands with programs, and training Open Studio Process Facilitators all over the world. With the mandate to provide much-needed Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for schools in Illinois and across the nation, OSP was poised to be one of the only experienced providers of visual arts based SEL. With the leadership of then Executive Director Sarah Laing, OSP expanded services into the Chicago Public School system and began producing school curricula available to teachers across the country.

In the early 2000s, OSP expanded into a larger space, allowing the open of a dedicated, mission driven Gallery 901, showcasing artists who use art for personal growth, social emotional learning, and community well-being.

The ability to provide classes and trainings virtually has also extended the OSP scope of service to people around the country and world.

We want to thank the many OSP facilitators, interns, staff, leaders, volunteers and advisors who have worked so hard to bring the OSP Process to benefit so many! We also want to thank the generous donors and funders who have allowed us to maintain incredible staff and infrastructure to provide these programs!

Left to Right Dayna Block, Suzette Payne, Board Member Francisco Vasquez, Ted Harris & Sarah Laing (Lloyd -Still).