Dijon Barrett is a Chicago artist born and raised in the city that inspires much of his work. Barrett wants to share his imagination with the world, creating a fictitious rock band and lots of creative artwork.  Barrett joined Project Onward in 2017, which he feels is his home.

Project Onward is a nonprofit whose mission is to provide a space for artists with disabilities to tap into their creativity without concern for cost. Founded in 2004, Project Onward seeks to promote artists with disabilities and their work to the broader art community and the general public. Project Onward provides a safe and supportive studio environment with professional guidance to many talented artists with disabilities.

Barrett’s art incorporates striking gradients and strong shapes done in colored pencil. Many of his works feature intriguing landscapes, interesting characters and beautiful coloring. His imagination and skill has produced a unique style that you can peruse and purchase on the Project Onward website. 

Information about Barrett and Project Onward can be found here.

Resting on the Ohio River, Metropolis is one of Southern Illinois’ hidden gems. It was founded in 1839 by two visionary settlers who set their sights on making Metropolis a riverside transport hub. It also happens to be the fictional city where the universe of Superman takes place. The town was designated “Hometown of Superman” by the Illinois General Assembly on June 9, 1972.

The town has taken this moniker quite literally over the years and began the “Superman Celebration,” an event featuring celebrity guests from the movie, television and comic book industries. Metropolis celebrated its 46th annual Superman Celebration in 2024. In addition to the event, Metropolis is home to Super Museum adjacent to a 15 foot tall Superman statue, featuring a massive Superman-themed collection.

But Superman isn’t the only thing this town is known for. Fort Massac State Park features a replica 1802 fort and lots of land for fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. Mermet Springs features swimming and first class dive training. In addition to the many natural parks and bodies of water in the area, Metropolis features shops, local dining and a casino.

Metropolis is a must-see town the next time you’re traveling through Southern Illinois.

To learn more about the town’s offerings, click here.

For 10 years, “I Like Illinois” has been providing an alternate view of our great state by sharing events, celebrating holidays, and highlighting all the amazing things Illinois has to offer.

Illinois has many astonishing qualities – from a boasting state fair, to farm land and cityscapes – there is something here for everyone. In celebration, here are some of our top 10 stories over the last 10 years about what we like here in Illinois:

Founded in 1996, Ballet Quad Cities is the longest running fully professional ballet company in the Western Illinois region. Based in Rock Island, the company brings exhilarating performances to the area, often including the Christmas classic, “The Nutcracker,” and their own variations of famous ballets such as “Carmen.”

Alongside their performances each season, Ballet Quad Cities uses ballet as a tool to facilitate lessons in literacy, social-emotional development and physical activity through their outreach program that visits local schools, libraries, youth centers and organizations within the area.