Art, for Heaven’s Sake!
Art, for Heaven’s Sake! is a three-day annual art festival held in historic Redlands, California on the grounds and gardens of the Redlands United Church of Christ. The Redlands United Church of Christ holds this event to support the arts and the community.
This premiere art festival of the Inland Empire features 60-70 artists and crafters representing a wide variety of media, including acrylics, photography, watercolor, oils, stained glass, jewelry, pottery, and metal sculpture.
In addition to original art, the festival offers a craft boutique, a food truck experience, fabulous music, and artist demonstrations. A gala “Meet the Artists” reception open to the public is held on Friday evening to open the show.
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History of Art, for Heaven’s Sake!
1980
Forty-four years ago, the first Art, for Heaven’s Sake! Show took place in the living room of a Redlands United Church of Christ member. The idea came from a need to raise funds for a church building for the newly formed congregation. Dorothy Landeros, a founding member of the church coined the name, Art, for Heaven’s Sake!, which was meant to be a pun. The show soon outgrew its modest beginnings. In the following years it was moved to what is now the Redlands Medical Center on the corner of Olive and Terracina in Redlands. The show did well there for several years.
1987
Finally, the medical facility decided to open on Saturdays. This meant the show had to move. The newly built Redlands United Church of Christ was just down the street. The area where the church sanctuary sits today was vacant, so the show committee borrowed a huge tent from the City of Redlands and put it up on the large east lawn. The show also used the hall, the patio and the area where the church office is as well. Church on art show Sunday was held in the garden
2008
When the sanctuary and church office were built, the art show once again had to re-group. It was then that the show took on its present form. In recent years, the garden has been enlarged to hold even more artists. In 2019 the show expanded into the new Mosaic Hall building as well.
2020
2020 brings a new challenge to the show. This year due to the Covid pandemic, the show will be held virtually. The hope is that the show will resume physically in October of 2021.
Over the years, the show has become a major event in Redlands. Both exhibitors and guests come from all over Southern California to experience the beautiful art and music. Proceeds from the show help to fund such organizations at Food for All, the Redlands Christian Counseling Service, Angel’s Closet, Get on the Bus and Music Changing Lives. Past shows have also helped to fund Hurricane Katrina Relief, and relief in Haiti.
2021
In 2021, the show was back in person but reduced in size in order to keep everyone as safe as possible from Covid. The addition of food trucks provided a fun dining experience just outside the show.