An exhibit of positive acts and attitudes and a display of fine arts and crafts for the holidays are running concurrently in Park Forest.

Tall Grass Arts Association Gallery, which is in the downtown Park Forest Cultural Center, presents “Peace on Earth” and “Great Gifts Galore” through Jan. 6 during the annual Holiday Show.

“If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind gifts and don’t want to deal with lines at the mall or deal with some manufactured items that you can get anywhere, it’s a great opportunity to give something people can’t get anywhere else,” said Cody Ziebell, executive director of Tall Grass Arts Association.

Sisters Claudia and Deborah Craemer and Janice Pratt, of Chicago Heights, curated “Peace on Earth.”

“Since it’s the holidays and everyone is supposed to be nice and cheery, they were looking for positive moments and acts of kindness and tranquility and peace,” said Ziebell, of Tinley Park.

“Especially with all the negativity going on, it’s a good way to bring out the goodness in everybody. Hopefully people come out and find some gifts that they can give to someone as well to share the happiness with people.”

More than 60 pieces including collages, digital works, drawings, fiber pieces, mixed media, paintings, photographs and relief sculptures are featured in “Peace on Earth.”

“We looked for new pieces. It gives people variety for what they want to put on their walls. It’s not just geared toward one theme. I love it because it gives a lot of people more ideas in gift-giving,” Ziebell said.

Tall Grass Arts Association juried artists exhibiting work in “Peace on Earth” include residents of Chicago Heights, Crete, Dolton, Frankfort, Joliet, Matteson, Olympia Fields, Palos Heights, Park Forest and Tinley Park as well as Dyer, Ind.; Michigan; Florida and California.

“They are all great artists. Some of them are teachers, and they also help with gift shops and other galleries on the South Side as well,” Ziebell said.

Tall Grass Arts Association president Diana Cruz, of Park Forest, and board member Janet Muchnik, of Olympia Fields, curated “Great Gifts Galore.”

“They’re little pieces. They’re three-dimensional. What we like about the small pieces is they’re easy to give as gifts. We have some unique pieces,” Ziebell said.

At least 150 of them, including hats by Jill Debardelaben, of Chicago Heights, and domino pieces that are necklaces and some hats by Pam Eberlin, of Chicago Heights, are featured. Glass earrings, bracelets and necklaces by Susan Wade, from St. John, Ind., and trays, pots, mugs, ceramic bowls and vases by Flynn Sochon, from Twin Lake, Mich., are also part of the exhibit.

“We’re just a gem in the south suburbs,” Ziebell said about Tall Grass Arts Association.

“It was less than two years ago that we had the ‘Ancestors: Art and Artifacts of Africa’ show. That’s a world-renowned exhibit that you would see at a downtown Chicago museum but you didn’t have to do that. If you just wanted to go to the south suburbs, you could come right in and look at the pieces here.

“A lot of people think they have to go into the city to see exhibits like some that we have. They’ve got to realize you don’t have to go that far.”

Jessi Virtusio is a freelance. reporter.