SonnyD Presents The POP Life

05/16/2023

I am so very sorry to announce that due to my recent breast cancer diagnosis, the "Go To Your Happy Place" Show has been temporarily postponed. It will be rescheduled to a future TBD date, once I am on the road to recovery & know I am able to push forward with it. Be looking out for future announcements regarding a new date & thank you so much for your understanding & support during this time... ~SonnyD 🩷

02/12/2023

OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS! We want to see your artistic interpretation of what takes you to your "happy place"; be it a memory, a song, a person, an activity, a place, etc. Whatever or whoever brings you peace, joy, calm when you need it the most. To participate in this themed show, comment or dm SonnyD Artistry. Deadline for submissions is April 30th. More info coming soon, so be looking out for the event page! ✌️🙂🎨🕊❤️

10/27/2022

The 6th Annual Dark Arts Show is almost here!!! Here's a fun little sneak peek. My "Blackbeard Mac~Rumours" will be at the SonnyD table, for any of Our Flag Means Death fans! Can't wait to see y'all Saturday night! 🤘🎃🎶🎨❤️

07/29/2022

Spook~tactular time is just around the corner!!! Exactly 3 months from today we'll be hootin' & a howlin' at the 6th Annual Dark Arts Show! So mark your calendars for a night full of ghoulishly fun art, live music, costume contests, raffles & so much more! For info on the remaining available artist spots, contact Sonya at SonnyD Artistry on Facebook. See ya on the Dark side, ghouls & gals! 🤘🎃🎨🎶💚

05/20/2022

SonnyD Artistry is so very psyched to be a part of this rockin' event at the 2022 Abe Fest!!! Tickets are on sale now, so follow the link to catch the early bird specials! 🤘🤩🎶🎨❤️

Where Springfield Music, Food and Art Come Together

05/15/2022

New art popped up at Anvil & Forge today! Come catch the coolness of the May/June hang, through June 15th! 🤘🤩🎨❤️ Anvil & Forge Brewing and Distilling

05/04/2022

MAY THE 4th BE WITH YOU! I'm excited to announce that my SonnyD "A Woman's Place Is In The Rebellion" Princess Leia painting has been turned into this comfy creation by Reverie Apparel in Downtown Springfield!!! This is an in~store exclusive & will not be added online for a bit. In celebration of May the 4th, Reverie will be open from 10-7 today, with all of the galactic gear you could ever want & even a visit from a couple cool characters you can photo op with tonight from 4-6. Also recieve discounts by answering Star Wars trivia. So, grab your light saber & get there at warped speed before they're gone! 🤘🤩🚀🛸⭐️💙

04/12/2022

I was so happy to be asked by the Pinkalicious Survivor Sisters to be a featured vendor at their 1st Annual Vendor Fair! 20% of the proceeds from all of the vendors sales that day will be donated to local cancer causes. You know how very close this is to my heart. So, pop out & shop for a great cause! Be on the lookout for the SonnyD Artistry booth, where there will be some new work like my "I Hope You Dance" pictured here, along with some old faves! ✌️😍🎨🌺

02/22/2022

OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS!!! We are looking for Mischievous, funny, silly themed art to be included in "The April Foolery Show" on Friday, April 1st at Anvil & Forge. For more info contact Sonya Sanders Dilley. Deadline for drop off will be March 27th.

12/20/2021

CALL FOR ART!!! We're looking for 70's 80's 90's themed art for our NYE Decades Dance Party at Anvil & Forge! ✌🤩🎶🎨🥳

11/12/2021

Pop on out to Wild Rose Saturday evening for the Activator Art Issue Fundraiser! 🎶🎨❤

Lots of stuff going on Saturday night. Be sure to stop by Wild Rose to catch the live music featuring Cut Flowers, Drew Cagle & The Reputation, Jared White and Cee Jones. Music starts at 4:15pm. Maybe do some early holiday shopping while you are there.

10/21/2021

Call for local art submissions for Activator Magazine's annual Art Issue! 🎨❤

Spread the word.

10/14/2021

On this, Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, may I introduce my, "I Believe In Pink" ~Audrey. She was commissioned by the Springfield Area Arts Council & is being donated to the St. John's Cancer Center. She will also be gracing the Whimsy Tea label for their Pinky~tini tea, with a percentage of the proceeds going towards cancer research. You may see the original in person at Whimsy Tea Company in Downtown Springfield, now through Saturday, after which she will be hanging at St. John's Cancer Center. 🎨💖🫖💗🌺💝

09/21/2021

Whimsy Tea Company is up for the Illinois Times Best Place To Buy Local Art, as well as Best Gallery, Best New Downtown Business & Best Retail! Feel free to use this direct link to vote in the Best Place To Buy Local Art category. Thank you as always for supporting our 24 local label artists! 🫖🎨❤

Check it out now!

09/21/2021

Ok, guys & gals! Beyond excited that Whimsy Tea Company made the Top 5 in the Illinois Times Best of Springfield in 4 different categories; Best Art Gallery, Best Place To Buy Local Art, Best New Downtown Business & Best Retail!!! Not to mention 2 of our Whimsy label artists have made the finals in two other categories; Monica Hohimer for the Visual Artist Category & Larry Smith for Comedian! I'm so very proud of our team of 24 multi-talented local artists who have collaborated with Gordon & Laura Davis, to help create the one of a kind vibe for the Whimsy Tea customers to enjoy & frequent. Final voting has begun. Thank you so much for all of your amazing support in our little adventure! ✌😍🫖🎨❤

Check it out now!

09/01/2021

Since the unvailing at the Artists In Harmony show happened over the weekend, I guess I can now let the cat out of the bag. Meet my latest & possibly favorite SonnyD painting, "Green Eggs & H.A.M" N.I.L.8 Jeff Curtis Williams! Check it out in person through the month of September, along with all of the other spectacular musically inspired art submissions, at Anvil & Forge Brewing in Downtown Springfield. 🤘🤩🎶🎨❤

08/30/2021

217 Burlesque & Curiosities set the night on fire, Friday at the Artists In Harmony Show! 🎶🎨🔥❤

08/30/2021

Thank you to Activator Magazine for these great shots from Friday's Artists In Harmony Show!!! 🤘🤩🎶🎨❤🔥

08/27/2021

It's all happening! Today is the day. The Artists In Harmony Show has arrived on the Hot Mess Express... Remind me to breathe when it's all over, lol! 🤘😉🎶🎨❤

08/18/2021

Artists In Harmony artists, you can still drop off your pieces for the show tonight at DIM Art House from 5-7pm!

08/16/2021

Nothing like a good surprise on a Monday morning!!! Looks like our Whimsy Tea Gallery has been nominated in two categories; Art Gallery & Best Place To Buy Local Art. How cool is that? It's been a blast working with these 24 talented local artists & we still have a waiting list in the wings! The collaborative & supportive vibe is what makes it all work. Top 5 nominations move on to the next round. So, if you love what we've done, feel free to nominate the Whimsy Tea Gallery in the IT Best of Springfield. Thank you so very much for supporting local art! ✌😍🎨❤

Check it out now!

08/15/2021

We've pulled an 11th hour alternate out of the hat for our Friday the 27th Artists In Harmony Show Set Schedule! Kevin Wasmer from Enamel will now be playing our 9:30pm spot. Hope to see you there! 🤘🙂🎶🎨

08/10/2021

Just a little reminder that art submissions for the Artists In Harmony Show are due by August 14th at Dim Art House! Feel free to contact us with any questions or the Dim Art House crew to schedule a drop off. We can't wait to see what you've drummed up for us! 🤘😉🎶🎨❤

07/28/2021

The Artists In Harmony Show Set Schedule is finally complete!!! Thanks to your overwhelming response, we have well over 20+ performers over the two evenings, coming together in harmony to put on one fun two evening event at Anvil & Forge Brewing. We have acts from numerous genres & generations, including multi talented veteran performers from the Springfield music scene, mixed with brand new faces on the block. Spoken Word by two of Springfield's noted poets of inspiration, not to mention a pinch of fun with fire & a jammin' dance troupe. Did I mention the one of a kind Dumb Records vinyl wall? At the heart of it all, we have the Art of it all! In the words of the great Miles Davis, "A painting is music you can see & music is a painting that you can hear." So, please join us in celebrating "Artists In Harmony". Reminder: open call art deadline is August 14th. Please, feel free to contact us with any questions or to schedule your drop off at Dim Art House. We hope to see you there & thank you for supporting the local arts scene. 🎶🎨❤

07/16/2021

Announcing the performers for the Artists In Harmony Show!!!
Musical performances by:
Jeff Curtis Williams, Tim Lacy, The Complaint Line, Scott Nichols, Kristen Walker, Kevin Wasmer, Cee Jones, Vertrell Yates, Austin Sprouse, Patrick Russel, Julie Brown, Joel Gragg, Tory Mulch & Tony Colantino
Spoken Word by:
Tim Crawford & Shatriya Smith
Open call for music acts have closed, but open call for visual art is still available. Submit all musically inspired art to Dim Art House by August 14th. If you would like to paint an album for the Dumb Records vinyl wall display, you may pick up records at Dim Art House, starting next week or contact Sonya Sanders Dilley to meet up. This cool collaboration is one you won't want to miss! 🎶🎨❤

06/24/2021

A Whimsy Tea Walkthrough! 3 minutes & 16 seconds at 316 E. Adams! Pop on in to the new shop location & check out our progress so far. Gordon Davis will hook you up with the most whimsical tea in town. Then hang out & chill in their O so comfy chairs & drink in the local art from their Whimsy Tea label artists. It's a win win! As always, thank you for supporting local... ✌🙂🎨☕❤

06/02/2021

Big news is on the way this week! 🤘🤩🎨🎶❤

05/31/2021

Welcome, welcome, welcome to our new event page!!! SonnyD Presents *The POP! Life* is an expansion of The POP! Shows previously established by Staunztastic Art in Springfield, IL. Due to an out of state move by it's founder, Staunzie Grady, The POP! has now been turned over to local artist, Sonya Sanders Dilley (SonnyD Artistry), to coordinate these shows, events & mini galleries, with her own twist. SonnyD Presents *The POP! Life* will continue with the standing tradition of providing inclusive opportunities for local artists/creatives to be seen, heard & showcased. These events will include a variety of up & coming, as well as established visual artists, musical artists, poets & comedians. Sonya will be partnering with local businesses such as Anvil & Forge Brewing, Whimsy Tea Company & Arlington's to host these events, all while promoting these businesses as well. If you feel you fall into any of these categories & would like to participate in upcoming events, please contact Sonya here. If you are a business that would like to host an event or a curated mini gallery, always feel free to reach out to us. All future events will be posted on this page, as well as open call opportunities for you to join in. Be looking out for all of the new fun stuff to come! Thank you so much for supporting our journey here at *The POP! Life* & hope to see you at the next big event...