“We’re doing it because we love art,” Steve Hartman said.
The Gogh-Getters have helped provide that presence for the last 15 years.
The group, composed of Hartman and fellow artists Kerry Smith, Dave Thomas and Juan Cruz, recently held a joint anniversary celebration and exhibition opening for Birdwork by Pam Wolfe, whose found-object sculptures currently adorn the walls at Sacred Grounds Café.
Article continues below this ad
Thomas did the math, showing that the Gogh-Getters have now hosted 118 exhibits over the group’s tenure, and Sacred Grounds, 233 N. Main St. in Edwardsville, has served as gallery space for the collective since its inception.
Some exhibitions showcase returning artists, such as David Yates, Dennis Ringering or Matt Reedy (whose work is also available in sticker form at Thrills Ville), while other artists might partner with the Gogh-Getters for their first show — as is the case for Pam Wolfe.
“Birdwork” by Pam Wolfe is on display through Jan. 10.
Riley Hansen/The Intelligencer
Each of Wolfe’s sculptures is in an antique clock case, which she lines with wallpaper and fills with found objects such as miniature figures, dolls and tiny furniture.
Article continues below this ad
“I don’t like to tell people,” Wolfe said about the meaning of her works. “I’d rather they come to their own conclusions or how it speaks to them, but they end up being about ecology.”
Wolfe has 19 pieces on display, all available for purchase. The sculptures, with titles such as “Finders Keepers,” “Green Space Dilemma” and “It’s Not Hoarding If Your Stuff Is Cool,” reflect her process as well as those ecological interests. Birds are a common motif, and ladybugs hide in the crevices.
“In my opinion, these should be in some major galleries,” Kerry Smith said.
“Green Space Dilemma” is just one piece on display as part of Pam Wolfe’s “Birdwork.”
Riley Hansen/The Intelligencer
Smith is one of the original co-founders of the Gogh-Getters. “One of my favorite things is for us to give somebody their first opportunity to show,” Smith said.
Article continues below this ad
The Gogh-Getters decide together which artists they will showcase next. They have a collective list of names to pull from, but artists can submit their work for consideration on the Gogh-Getters website, and the group often receives interest from word of mouth.
“Thankfully, we have a very good amount of people coming in, and we’re preparing for 2027,” Juan Cruz said. Cruz, under the Gogh-Getters name, also curates the art at Cleveland Heath, just down the road at 106 N. Main St.
Artist Pam Wolfe uses found objects to create her artworks.
Riley Hansen/The Intelligencer
Dave Thomas co-founded the Gogh-Getters with Smith, and the ever-changing shows — including six exhibits in 2026 — keep him energized.
Article continues below this ad
“I’m energized by my partners and the people that come to see the openings,” he said. “Working with the artists — it’s very fulfilling.”
When the Gogh-Getters first started, the goal was to promote local artists, whether emerging or established, based in the Metro East.
An exhibition visitor examines “Birdwork.”
Riley Hansen/The Intelligencer
“It’s really gotten much bigger,” Thomas said. “We’ve had people from Columbia, Missouri — far-reaching places. I had a friend I was in art school with, who was in Berlin, who shipped a bunch of little drawings. We don’t have any particular look. In fact, the more different things are, the better.”
Article continues below this ad
“Birdwork” is on display through Jan. 10 at Sacred Grounds Café.