All SIUC students wanting to showcase their sculptures, paintings or other original artwork to the public will have the chance Saturday at the First Annual Quality of Life Services Artisan Benefit in the Civic Center, 200 S. Illinois Ave.

I think it’s a great opportunity, O’Day said. Especially in this community. There’s not many shows around.

The refuse that O’Day’s uses for her artwork is in abundant supply around town.

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I collect nostalgic things and put them together to make it into art, she said. I collected a lot of stuff here in the last two years.

Rob Gardner, a graduate student in fine arts and blacksmithing, said the location of the benefit will help people with all kinds of artistic interests see different styles of art.

It should draw a pretty diverse crowd being in the Civic Center, he said.

Gardner and O’Day will be sharing a booth at the benefit.

The art booths, which consist of three tables set up in a horseshoe shape 8-feet long and 10-feet wide, are available for $50.

Benefit organizer, Ann Vinson, encourages SIUC students to display their artwork.

She also said that if the cost for a booth is too much, then it can be split between artists the way Gardner and O’Day did.

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We definitely want SIUC students in there, she said. They can share a booth if they want. It’s no problem.

Vinson added that artists should not worry about paying a percentage of the artwork they sell to Quality of Life Services. Any money that the artists make at the benefit will go straight into their pockets.

We won’t take a percent from what the artists sell, she said. A lot of (art shows) take around 10 to 30 percent of an artist’s sales.

Admission to the QLS Artisan Benefit is free. Vinson said free admission is a good way to get more of the public inside, which in turn will make the artists happier.

We don’t want people to get there and think they have to pay, she said. We want this to succeed.

There will be activities at the benefit for people of all ages. Along with Music Magic, a variety show that will perform throughout the benefit, there will be a 50/50 drawing and a raffle for an original piece of artwork by a local artist.

The benefit is celebrating QLS’s 20 years in the home health care industry. The proceeds raised from selling tables will go to the QLS-related needy.

O’ Day said the cause is a definite positive because the organizers are not out strictly for their own benefit.

It’s nice to know we know where the money is going, she said.

Vinson said that though the artwork will be the major attraction, she still hopes people will understand the benefit’s purpose.

It’s for public information to educate the people about QLS, she said. And we want to raise money for hospice and the programs QLS has.

Students interested in selling crafts may also purchase a booth at the benefit. Craft booths are the same size as artisan booths but are only $20. The craft tables will be located at the east entrance while the artisans will be located in the middle of the center.

There are no artistic restrictions at the benefit, Vinson said, but artists wanting to showcase their very controversial work may have better success elsewhere.

We’re not out to evoke any attention in the art world and raise controversy, she said. We’re just trying to raise money.

Vinson said that if this year’s benefit does well, she would be willing to have an event that would feature any material local artists and SIUC students would display as art.

I’d like to see a juried show to display more controversial work, she said. Hopefully next year we can do that.

The benefit begins at 8 a.m. Saturday and will run until 4 p.m.