The Log Cabin Center exhibit at the Vogt Visual Arts Center will feature work from both instructors and students from the teaching center in Palos Heights. The free show will run from July 5 to 30, with a reception for the artists July 7. (Log Cabin Center)

When Julie Dekker, gallery director of the Vogt Visual Arts Center in Tinley Park, started working with organizers of the Log Cabin Center for the Arts in Palos Heights, her first thought was, why did that take so long to happen?

“I’m surprised it took us this long to get together because they’re a very dynamic group of artists,” Dekker said. “I have had work from several of them in shows in the past, but they had all been in different exhibitions and never collectively.

“When Heather Young approached me with the idea of doing a show of their work, it just made a lot of sense,” she said.

Young, who oversees the Log Cabin Center for the Arts, was happy to introduce more people to the work they have been doing for decades.

“Our arts center is in three log cabins in a forested setting, so it’s a pretty awesome place to make art,” she said. “We have a team of over 20 art teachers leading classes from one-day workshops to six-week sessions. When I first met Julie, I was excited to have a venue to display some of the incredible creations that both our teachers and students have been making.”

They began with a show last summer, and it was so successful that Dekker decided to invite them back this year.

“This year we’ll have an even bigger show of their work, and I’m excited to see what they bring,” she said.

The exhibition, which runs at the Vogt Visual Arts Center between July 5 and 30, is free to the public. Expect to see a wide range of art created at the Log Cabin Center.

An artists reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. July 7.

“I always say that we have everything from fine art to folk art, and there’s a real emphasis on things that aren’t offered at a lot of other places,” Young said. “We have drawing and watercolors, but there are also specialty classes like basketry, pottery, wood carving and jewelry. Because we’re in this beautiful setting, we’re influenced by nature.”

The show at the Vogt Visual Arts Center will include contributions by both instructors and students.

“Last year’s show featured just the instructors,” Young said. “And this year, we thought it would be fun to open it up to the students as well and give them a goal of contributing something. I think we’ll have more than 100 people contributing to the show.”

“They have this facility that’s like a quiet retreat and just a very enjoyable place to take art classes,” Dekker said. “It’s great that it’s in our area, and I’m not sure everybody knows about it.”

She’s also happy that the show will give more local artists a way to display their work.

“There aren’t a lot of places to do this, so we’re happy to give more local artists a chance to be seen,” Dekker said. “People will be impressed when they see the quality of work produced here.”

“They do such a good job (at the Vogt Visual Arts Center),” Young said. “It was such a fun experience to be a part of last year, and I’m excited to get more people creating art and sharing with the community.”

Long Cabin Center Exhibition at the Vogt Visual Arts Center

Where: Vogt Visual Arts Center, 17420 S. 67th Court, Tinley Park

Information: 708-614-6503; tinleyparkdistrict.org

Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.