T. Lance, Sharp Museum curator of exhibits, shows off textile and ceramic artwork now on exhibition as part of the Oak Street Art Collective Member Series. (Photo by Russell Bailey)
October 03, 2025
SIU Sharp Museum series highlights Oak Street Art Collective works
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The work of two local artists at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Sharp Museum will kick off a series that highlights a collective of talented and creative women artists.
The Oak Street Art Collective Members Series, featuring the works of co-founders Luca Cruzat and Darby Ortolano, runs through Oct. 30 in the museum’s Hall of Art. A reception with a gallery talk by Cruzat is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 in the museum’s south hall. The exhibition is free and open to the public during museum hours.
Cruzat and Ortolano are both SIU Carbondale alumnae; Cruzat’s work features textiles, and Ortolano’s work is with ceramics. The exhibition is the first of four two-person showings the museum will host featuring creations by the collective’s artists, leading up to the 10th anniversary of Murphysboro’s Oak Street Art Fair in April 2026, said T Lance, the museum’s curator of exhibits.
“It is important at the museum to build and strengthen connections to the community. This series of exhibits of Oak Street Art members does just that,” they said. “Not only is it good publicity for the collective, but it is also a great way to show current art students what some of our alumni have gone on to do after graduating, inspiring them to reach further for their goals.”
Working with different media
Started in 2016, with Cruzat, Ortolano and Sue Gindlesparger, a third co-founder, the annual Oak Street Art Fair is a juried event open to artists highlighting their original work. Most of the members are SIU Carbondale alumnae.
Current members, with their specialties are:
- Luca Cruzat, printmaking.
- Stephanie Dillard, stained glass.
- Sue Gindlesparger, metals and jewelry.
- Meagan Majors, painting.
- Darby Ortolano, ceramics.
- Nicki Rathert, textiles.
- Cathy Schmidt, leather.
- Madeline Steimle, fused glass and illustrations.
Cruzat, a Chilean-born artist, received both her Master of Fine Arts and a master’s degree in foreign languages and literatures (French) from SIU Carbondale. While in Chile, she taught French and attended art school. After arriving in the United States in 1988, she resumed making
embroideries, French studies and teaching. Cruzat has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally in Hong Kong, England, Germany and Chile.
Ortolano earned an MFA in ceramics from SIU Carbondale and a bachelor's degree also in ceramics at the Kansas City Art Institute. She was a visiting instructor at SIU Carbondale in the mid- to late 1990s and an assistant professor at John A. Logan College from 2000 to 2013.
Other exhibitions scheduled
Six other artists in the collective will also show their works in the coming months:
- Nov. 18 – Dec. 13 — Sue Gindlesparger (metal and jewelry) and Nicki Rathert (textile and weaving).
- Jan. 20 – Feb. 21 — Stephanie Dillard (stained glass) and Meagan Majors (painting).
- March 23 – April 25 — Cathy Schmidt (leather) and Madeline Steimle (illustration and glass).
Museum hours
For more information on the exhibition, contact Lance at 618-453-5388 or t.lance@siu.edu or visit museum.siu.edu. Sharp Museum hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday. The museum is closed Sunday and Monday, and during all SIU breaks and holidays.