From the annual international exhibitions of outdoor sculpture on Chicago's lakefront to the Arts District of Rock Island on the banks of the Mississippi River, the northern region of Illinois abounds in cultural activity. Rich in varied styles of architecture, an abundance of public art, museums and galleries, Northern Illinois is home to scores of talented artisans and craftspeople. Char Wiss of Wilmette Illinois is one of these gifted artisans whose fine work in basketry been inspired by her vibrant surroundings here in Northern Illinois.                   Evoking the very heartland of the nation, Central Illinois is the land of Lincoln, hallowed ground, from the log cabin of Lincoln's boyhood to New Salem, where he spent the early part of his career. The region is rich with historical sites as well as home to perhaps the most fertile agricultural soil on Earth. It is within this atmosphere that sculptor William Carlson draws his artistic vision and creates the complex multi-media sculpture that delights gallery visitors all across the state.                   Across the Ohio River from the state of Kentucky, removed from the high-speed hustle of Chicago, life in Southern Illinois is slower, more relaxed and certainly conducive to creativity. Many artisans have homesteaded in the region, starting cottage industries in pottery, blacksmithing, glass, and fiber. Just about an hour northeast of Giant City State Park, is the Rend Lake Resort and wildlife area. There you'll find the Illinois Artisans Shop at Rend Lake, which exhibits and sells works by many of the artisans featured in this book, including many by noted local sculptor Dan Anderson. Mr. Anderson creates stoneware pieces that reflect a bygone era with shapes and textures that celebrate the roughhewn sensibility of rural life.