The Voyeur Series by Charles Gniech, presented at The Art Center through January 2

There are just a few days left to explore the various exhibitions at The Art Center-Highland Park. Along with "FORMAL", which highlights the works of Igor & Marina, Beth Kamhi and Carl Holzman, you also have an opportunity to experience The Art Center's student gallery as well as ta small exhibition of paintings of my work—from my Voyeur series of 2005. All of the TAC exhibits will close at the end of the day on Saturday, January 2nd.

The Voyeur series was produced from 2004-05, with each painting depicting a figure peering through small horizontal opening floating in a field of color. The various emotions, shown in the gaze of each subject, define a silent interaction with the viewer. The paintings are presented in a hallway at The Art Center, forcing the interaction.

The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, Illinois. Gallery Hours are Monday through Friday from 9am–5pm, Saturday 9-4:30 but call ahead this week for holiday hours. All work in the exhibition is available for purchase. The exhibition continues through January 2.

 Chicago Tribune image: Frank Joseph Zirbel inspecting "Lust" by Charles Gniech
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Joyce Polance ~ Emotional Imagery

Joyce Polance, Once, oil on canvas, 30" x 24"

I spent some time—yesterday morning—in the studio of Chicago painter, Joyce Polance. I first met Polance roughly fifteen years ago, when I became the Exhibition Curator for the galleries of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. Polance entered one of her powerfully energetic cityscape paintings to our National Juried Exhibition—which, I believe was called the “Collection Exhibition.” The title referred to a challenge I was given to create a corporate fine art collection for the Institute. A juried show was the perfect way to explore the fine art currently being produced across the country as well as a way of generating funds to purchase work for the collection. Polance’s painting was included in the exhibition—and it received one of the purchase awards.

I contacted Polance a few years later, while I was opening Gallery H in Three Oaks, Michigan with Nancy Hoffman. Hoffman—a collector of mine—had experienced my work and curatorial skills via the galleries of The Illinois Institute of Art and the Fine Arts Building Gallery. She asked me to help her to find quality artists to represent in the Michigan gallery, and to produce the shows. Polance was one of the artists I selected for representation.

Joyce Polance, Spill, oil on canvas, 60" x 72".

I’ve watched Polance’s career evolve over the years—moving from cityscape to the figure; hyperrealism to her current work, which is powerfully expressionistic and emotional. The latter was the work I wanted to experience first hand.

Joyce Polance, After, oil on canvas, 30 x 24

Polance paints about emotion. Her most recent body of work explores the single female form amongst a flurry of movement. The paint seems to glide across the canvas—layer upon layer—building a surface of unexpected color and texture—the quality found on the surface of a clay sculpture. The texture often interrupts the figures with a play of positive/negative space. The imagery is beautifully poignant—defining not only the turbulent emotions of the creator but also the chaotic atmosphere of today’s world.

Joyce Polance, Fall, oil on canvas, 40" x 30"

The painting above, titled “Fall”, is a transitional piece created between a series of large hyper real canvases about the relationships of women and the most recent works exploring emotion. “Fall” is emotional but in an entirely different way. When Polance pulled this painting from a shelf in her studio, I was stunned. Rarely do I find myself holding back tears. But there I was… holding back tears—trying to listen to her words but hearing nothing. I looked at the painting and found myself looking into the face of anguish and understanding the subject's gut-wrenching, horrific pain. The canvas is a masterpiece.

I plan to be working again with Polance in the near future. Her work will result in a powerfully moving exhibition.
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Coffee with Artist, Carl Holzman

Carl Holzman, Sunday Morning, oil on canvas, 36"x36", 2015

Save the Date:  Thursday, December 3rd 6-8:30pm

Please join me at The Art Center-Highland Park for coffee and conversation with still life painter, Carl Holzman. Holzman’s imagery focuses on vintage objects; rusted, chipped, patinated or otherwise distressed over time—presented with dramatic lighting to heighten the varied surfaces. I will be moderating the evening. We will explore Holzman’s inspirations, creative process, and techniques, while surrounded by a selection of his beautiful still life paintings. The evening will conclude with questions from the audience. This is a free event.
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The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, Illinois. Gallery Hours are Monday through Friday from 9am–5pm, Saturday 9-4:30 and Sunday, by appointment. All work in the exhibition is available for purchase. The exhibition continues through January 2.

The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level.

BRUCE NEW ~ An attempt to document his exhistance

Bruce New, The Vision of the Crystal City, mixed media, 20 x 16"

Bruce New defines his work as an attempt to document his existence, leaving a visual record of his thoughts, ideas, and fantasies. He makes his home on a mountaintop in the wilds of Kentucky were he says he creates his art "...high on butterfly wine.”

New's imagery is beautifully complex with unique elements reflecting our society. Graphic figures with symbolic iconography contrast columns of the printed word—both  reflecting occurrences of today's world. The various graphic elements are manipulated to create an intricate layered surface to explore and contemplate.

Bruce New, The Moon Council, mixed media, 18 x 24"

I found Bruce New's work while reviewing work for an Outsider Art event, which will be held at The Art Center-Highland Park, tomorrow night. Other wonderful and obsessively-creative, quirky artists to be exhibited include: Lea Atiq, Ellen Greene, Debo Groover, Mary King, and Frank Joseph Zirbel.

A fundraiser for The Art Center-Highland Park, tickets for An Evening of OUTSIDER ART and JAZZ, may be purchased online at TheArtCenterHP.org or by calling Jacqueline Chilow at 847.432.1888.

If you haven’t yet experienced Outsider Art, you will be astonished by this experience!

Coffee with the Artists ~ Igor and Marina

Save the Date: 
Thursday, November 12th 6-8:30pm

Please join me at The Art Center-Highland Park this Thursday at 6pm, as I interview the husband and wife collaborative painters, Igor Kozlovsky and Marina Sharapova. During the evening, I plan to explore the history, inspirations, challenges and achievements of these modern masters... All while surrounded by a variety of their paintings—currently on exhibit in the main gallery of The Art Center-Highland Park. The evening will conclude with questions from the audience and enough time for a second cup of coffee. You will also have an opportunity to take a closer look at the beautiful and elaborate paintings created Igor and Marina.

 Igor and Marina, Tiny Squares 261, oil on canvas, 50" x 50"

A little insight:  Igor and Marina reinterpret the imagery of the Renaissance masters while including surrealist elements. The imagery emerges as iconic in a mixture rendered figures contrasted by flat shape. The artists infuse new meaning into familiar imagery, inviting the viewer to experience a newly created existence.

 Igor and Marina, Walkers VIII (In Blue), oil on canvas, 62" x 48"

The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, Illinois. Gallery Hours are Monday through Friday from 9am–5pm, Saturday 9-4:30 and Sunday, by appointment. All work in the exhibition is available for purchase. The exhibition continues through January 2.

The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level. 
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FORMAL at The Art Center- Highland Park Opening Tonight at 6:30pm

 FORMAL at The Art Center-Highland Park, Installation view

Join me tonight at 6:30pm, for the Opening Reception of FORMAL at The Art Center-Highland Park. The show combines the work of four artists... husband and wife team; Igor & Marina, sculptor; Beth Kamhi, and still life painter, Carl Holzman.

Elegant adornment is the constant in the works-of-art found in the galleries of The Art Center-Highland Park. The show is elegant with a masterful blend of modern and traditional—representational and the abstract. Each work-of-art presents a layering of ideas with a visual outcome of formal elegance.

The word “formal” brings to mind a sense of graceful sophistication. It is special—proper. It is sometimes historical, ceremonial and ritualistic—but the word always delineates importance. The artist’s methodical organization of form in space, offers yet another interpretation of the word. Both interpretations apply to the exquisite fine art presented in FORMAL.

Igor and Marina, Walkers VIII (In Blue), oil on canvas, 64 x 48" and (right) Tiny Squares 260, oil on canvas, 50 x 50"

With imagery influenced by the artists of the Italian and Dutch Renaissance, husband and wife team, Igor & Marina, collaborate to create iconic imagery. Igor—a colorist—focuses on materials and abstraction while Marina manipulates the figurative imagery. Combined, the duo produce iconic paintings offering metaphoric narrative.

Positive and negative space, play an integral role in the paintings of Igor & Marina’s “Walker Series.” Flat color areas defining form, are juxtaposed with detailed renderings of the human form. Adornment is abundant as flat shape turns to pattern, bordered by whimsical brushstrokes of flowing color. The paintings mix dimensions—yet remain flat—inviting the viewer to enter into a unique environment. The comfortable familiarity of the carefully rendered figures, soften each image.

Igor and Marina, Red Queen, oil on canvas, 72 x 88"

“Red Queen” a triptych from a more recent body of work, begins to take a different compositional approach. The 72” x 88” canvas begins to address perspective yet the central figure remains the focus. The Queen—pregnant and draped in a red gown—floats in front of a vacant birdcage, flanked by historic imagery of baby buggies. She looks back at the viewer—acknowledging our presence. A variety of birds wander around the canvas taunting the Queen with their freedom. Ironically, the formal qualities of the painting differ from the Queen’s predicament.

The wooded vessels and beaded sculpture of Beth Kamhi, offer yet another level of adornment to the exhibition. Kamhi uses a combination of turned wood and metallic beads to interpret classically modern vessels. The work finds a balance between the physical weight of the materials and fluidity—resulting in graceful elegance. References to fiber and fashion are evident.

Carl Holzman, Ice, oil on canvas, 24 x 30"

Formal composition is clearly apparent in the nostalgic still life paintings created by Carl Holzman. Perfectly composed groupings of vintage and mid-century utilitarian objects—marked by the passage of time—are the subject of Holzman’s work. His passion for these historical artifacts is heightened by the use of theatrical lighting to emphasize the patterns and textures of the past. Holzman’s approach offers a contemporary perspective while using classic elements and formal composition.

FORMAL at The Art Center-Highland Park, Installation view

A public reception for “Formal” will be held at The Art Center-Highland Park tonight, from 6:30–9pm. The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, Illinois. Gallery Hours are Monday through Friday from 9am–5pm, Saturday 9-4:30 and Sunday, by appointment. All work in the exhibition is available for purchase. The exhibition continues through January 2.



The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level. 

Igor & Marina: Working as a husband-and-wife team, the Russian-born duo collaborates on each canvas, Marina contributing her impressive skills as a figurative artist in the Old Master tradition, Igor lending his refined sense of color, shape, texture and affinity for abstract images. As a result, the paintings are influenced by, and recall, a diverse spectrum of artists and eras: famous avant-garde figures like Chagall, Malevich, and Kandinsky as well as fifteenth-century Russian religious painters. Partly, this array of forbearers reflects the artists' educations: trained in rigorous Russian academies to appreciate both ancient and modern techniques, they learned to combine past and present with fluidity. In each of their canvases we sense a narrative implied, but we always fall short of piecing it together - it’s like waking up from a dream. And just as dreams synthesize all manner of seemingly disparate material into cohesive experiences, so Igor and Marina blend the modern and traditional, the representational and the abstract - and indeed their own divergent personalities - into each finished painting.  

Beth Kamhi (Born: NY 1956), is a Chicago Artist with a studio located in the Cornelia Arts Building in Chicago’s Roscoe Village. Currently Beth’s practice focuses on Site Specific, Collaboration and Commissioned Projects. She has a Textile, Fashion and Interior Design background from the Fashion Institute of Design. Beth’s work has been described as “Delicate, industrial and a sensual tapestries of woven steel beads,” “Inspiring works of sculpture to achieve a dynamic sense of tension through their provocative juxtaposition of style, content and form.” Her work has been exhibited in Museums, Galleries, Art Centers, Colleges, Public settings, Executive offices and Commercial spaces throughout the US. Actively participating in a collaborative art community; Beth is a co-founder of The Margin Gallery Collective (2006-2012) and 3D 12 Sculptors Group (2010-present) both with extensive exhibitions in the Mid-West region.

Carl Holzman: Born and raised in Topeka, Kansas, Holzman pursued a career in corporate finance before taking early retirement to devote his time and energy to painting. Holzman's love of drawing and painting dates from childhood and adolescence, but later took a back seat to his work in the publishing and healthcare industries. Holzman received degrees in literature from Swarthmore College and The University of Chicago, and an MBA from The University of Chicago. A resident of Chicago since graduating college, Holzman began to practice art seriously about 15 years ago when he enrolled in the Art Institute of Chicago's continuing education program. Very soon his long-dormant love of painting eclipsed other interests, and he resolved to develop his hobby into a vocation. In the years since, Holzman's award-winning still life paintings have been included in numerous solo, group and invitational exhibitions in galleries and museums in Chicago, the Midwest region, Santa Fe and Atlanta. His paintings are in many private and museum collections, both domestic and foreign.
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Carl Holzman in FORMAL at The Art Center-Highland Park

I spent much of Saturday afternoon at The Art Center-Highland Park accepting deliveries for the upcoming exhibition, FORMAL, which opens this Friday with a reception from 6:30–9pm. The exhibition includes paintings by Igor and Marina, turned wood and steel-beaded sculptures by Beth Kamhi and dramatic still life paintings by Carl Holzman.

Holzman's paintings—which adorn the walls of TAC's Lecture Gallery—were installed on Saturday. The intimacy of the space offers the perfect venue to approach and examine the delicate brushstrokes that morph the canvas surface into beautifully ornate patterns of fabric and patinaed antiques.

In his artist statement, Holzman points out that his paintings highlight an on-going fascination with the simple design of utilitarian mid-century objects. He is passionate about the "...varied textures, often rusted, chipped, distressed, patinated or in other ways marked by usage and time." The elements of each painting come alive with the use of theatrical lighting. Holzman reveals that "If one looks and listens without distraction, one may discern the characters on the stage, and hear their whispered dialog."

Installed a bit early, The paintings of Carl Holzman can be previewed prior to Friday's reception. Visit the Lecture Gallery of The Art Center-Highland Park at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park. The Gallery Hours are Monday through Friday 9am–5pm, Saturday from 9am–4:30pm and Sunday by appointment. All work in the exhibition is available for purchase. The exhibition opens on November 6 and continues through January 2.

Also join us for Coffee and Conversation with Carl Holzman on Thursday, December 3rd from 6-8:30. I will be interviewing the artist—asking questions about his history, process and imagery. The audience will also have an opportunity for questions at the conclusion of our discussion.

Carl Holzman "Ice" oil on canvas, 30" x 24" 2014

Born and raised in Topeka, Kansas, Holzman pursued a career in corporate finance before taking early retirement to devote his time and energy to painting. Holzman's love of drawing and painting dates from childhood and adolescence, but later took a back seat to his work in the publishing and healthcare industries. Holzman received degrees in literature from Swarthmore College and The University of Chicago, and an MBA from The University of Chicago.

A resident of Chicago since graduating college, Holzman began to practice art seriously about 15 years ago when he enrolled in the Art Institute of Chicago's continuing education program. Very soon his long-dormant love of painting eclipsed other interests, and he resolved to develop his hobby into a vocation. In the years since, Holzman's award-winning still life paintings have been included in numerous solo, group and invitational exhibitions in galleries and museums in Chicago, the Midwest region, Santa Fe and Atlanta. His paintings are in many private and museum collections, both domestic and foreign.

An Evening of OUTSIDER ART and JAZZ

Frank Joseph Zirbel, Post Atomic Woman
15” h x 6” x 9”, wood, cast iron, doll, screws, etch, sand and oil paint, 1996  

Save the Date: Friday, November 13, 2015 at 7pm

Join The Art Center-Highland Park for an evening of great jazz, craft beer, barbecue and outsider art. The list of obsessively creative and quirky artists include: Lea Atiq, Ellen Greene, Debo Groover, Mary King, Bruce New, and Frank Joseph Zirbel. If you haven’t yet experienced Outsider Art, you will be astonished by this experience!

A little background... Outsider Art is generally produced by self-taught artists that are not part of the artistic establishment. It is work produced far outside of the historical continuum of society... Embracing unconventional views of the world.

The intriguing art work—combined with wonderful food and smooth jazz—will make for an exceptional evening. The event is a fundraiser for The Art Center-Highland Park which is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. The center fosters creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offers extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level.

Tickets for "An Evening of OUTSIDER ART and JAZZ, may be purchased online at TheArtCenterHP.org or by calling Jacqueline Chilow at 847.432.188

Breaking Criminal Traditions at the Bridgeport Art Center - The Opening Reception and Upcoming Related Events

The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions opened last night at the Bridgeport Art Center. The exhibition—along with the open studios event—generated a great number of visitors.

Breaking Criminal Traditions is a fine art exhibition featuring the work of twenty artists from around the country. The exhibition calls attention to Domestic Violence Awareness Month as well as the ongoing ancient rituals that kill or maim millions each year—yet are not considered crimes. The exhibition utilizes the beauty of high-quality fine art to raise awareness of human rights issues and—in doing so—begins a dialogue that may encourage change. If you missed the reception, [it was a very busy ART night in Chicago] the show continues through Friday, November 13th. Also, there are a couple of other events occurring in conjunction with the exhibition: 

Wednesday, October 21, 6:30–9pm
Film Screening of “Honor Diaries” This documentary profiles activists working for women’s rights in honor cultures and their efforts to create positive change. Cheryl Jefferson will begin a dialogue with domestic violence experts after the screening.

Saturday, October 24, 11-2pm
An Artists Workshop: Creating Art Around Social Issues. This discussion and workshop will highlight how the creation of Art can instill social change.

The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions will be on display through November 13. The Bridgeport Art Center is located at 1200 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609. The gallery is open Monday–Saturday 8am-6pm and Sunday 8am-12pm. Most of the pieces included in the exhibition are available for purchase. Additional information can be found at BreakingCriminalTraditions.com.

The exhibition includes works of art by: Corinna Button (Chicago, IL), James Deeb (Evanston, IL), Sheila Ganch (Chicago, IL), Claire Girodie (Baltimore, MD), Charles Gniech (Chicago, IL), Sergio Gomez (Chicago, IL), Andrea Harris (Chicago, IL), Teresa Hofheimer [Chicago IL], Lelde Kalmite, [Chicago, IL], Paula Kloczkowski Luberda (Naperville, IL), Richard Laurent (Chicago, IL), Kathy Liao (Seattle, WA), Chandrika Marla (Highland Park, IL), Nancy Rosen (Chicago, IL), Lorraine Sack (Indianapolis, IN), Dominic Sansone (Chicago, IL), Valerie Schiff (Chicago, IL), Barbara Simcoe (Omaha, NE), and Anne Smith Stephan (Wilmette, IL)   
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The Anne Hughes event at The Art Center-Highland Park

Last night, The Art Center-Highland Park presented an evening with Anne Hughes. Hughes—an expert on the topic of pastel—offered amazing insight and advise on both technique as well and marketing.

After giving the attendees and overview of her background as a Pastel Artist and her responsibilities as the ZIA Gallery Director/Manager, Hughes elaborated on the business of being an artist—offering advise on everything from approaching galleries for representation to framing tips for pastel artists. She then lead the group on a tour around the current TAC pastel exhibit, "Pastels Chicago 2015." Hughes defined the beauty and subtle nuances within many of the exhibited works. She spoke in depth on technique-as-content and the importance of concept. The event was both entertaining as well as educational.

Hughes' work can be found in many galleries around the country as well as in Canada... But for greater insight, I would suggest visiting Hughes at ZIA Gallery in Winnetka, where you can see her work and discuss it with her directly. Also ask to see her cement sculptures... they are amazing!

Watch for upcoming free programming at The Art Center-Highland Park. Visit TheArtCenterHP.org for details.

Anne Hughes exhibits her artworks across Canada and the United States including solo exhibitions at McClure Gallery, Montréal, Québec; Brainard Gallery of Tarble Art Center, IL; Galerie de la Ville, Dollard des Ormeaux, Quebec; University Club of Chicago; Prairie Gallery, Alberta; Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Minnesota; Beacon St. Gallery, Chicago; Verde Gallery, Champaign, IL, among others.

Honored with numerous residency fellowships, Hughes enjoyed productive sessions at such organizations as Villa Montalvo, the Millay Colony, Anderson Center, Ucross Foundation and the Ragdale Foundation. She was awarded the William B. Bruce Fine Art European Travel Scholarship, a Sheila Hugh Mackay Foundation grant, the Vera Woodruff Wassenburg and Doug Koch Memorial Awards, and a Purchase Award at Galex 32: National Juried Exhibition. She has an MFA in Painting from Bowling Green State University, an MA in Art from Eastern Illinois University and a BFA in Studio Art from Concordia University in Montréal, Québec.
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Breaking Criminal Traditions at the Bridgeport Art Center

Richard Laurent, “Arcadia”, oil on canvas, 36 x 36” 2015

Save the Date: October 16th, 7-10pm
From our Press Release for the upcoming exhibition...

The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions
An exhibition utilizing the beauty of high-quality fine art to raise awareness of human rights issues

October 16 – November 13, 2015
Reception: Friday, October 16, 7-10pm

Opening October 16th at the Bridgeport Art Center is, The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions. This fine art exhibition, features the work of twenty artists from around the country, calling attention to the ongoing ancient rituals that kill or maim millions each year—yet are not considered crimes. The exhibition utilizes the beauty of high-quality fine art to raise awareness of human rights issues and—in doing so—begins a dialogue that may encourage change. It’s no mistake that this unique rendition of the Breaking Criminal Traditions exhibition is presented during October—Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

This provocative yet engaging exhibition debuted in 2013 at the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, putting the shadowy topics of honor killing, child marriage, acid violence—among others—directly in front of current and future law makers. Since the show debuted, new art pieces have been added. The show has evolved into the unique presentation designed specifically for the Bridgeport Art Center.

Chuck Gniech is the curator of the always-changing Breaking Criminal Traditions exhibition. With various human rights issues outlined by Executive Producer, Cheryl Jefferson, Gniech began researching and selected pieces that could be interpreted to define the issues at hand. Gniech points out that “Many of the exhibiting artists never intended that their work define human rights issues. I simply select beautifully intriguing works-of-art that contain multiple levels of meaning. Each was chosen to allude to the issues—the meaning ultimately decided by the interpretation of the viewer.”

Gniech continues… “Although most of the work in this exhibition is taken out of context, from the artist’s original intention, there are pieces that have been created to address specific criminal traditions.”

“Richard Laurent’s Arcadia, is a surreal composition of a faceless female figure amongst a strangely beautiful landscape. The painting—filled with subtle surprises—highlights a monumental mask as the point of focus. The mask rests gently against a patterned mountain range—that upon closer inspection—appears to be the haunches of an animal. The eyes of the mask, stare blankly off into space… providing an expression of loss or disillusion.”

Artist, Richard Laurent explains that “The image references an ancient social idea—an idea where women are considered feral and by ancient logic... dangerous. She exists only as a mask. Her dream is to be transformed from an empty vessel, into a moral—if not empowered—human being. The title points to a personal outcome without limits.”

Chuck Gniech has curated numerous fine art exhibitions with an emphasis on social justice. The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions continues the string of shows that offer a visual exploration of human rights issues. This show is designed to begin a dialogue and raise consciousness, which is the first step toward preventing the continuation of these horrifying acts.

“The global reach of these complex behaviors extends to the United States,” points out executive producer, Cheryl Jefferson, a participant in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. “The exhibit allows us to take the first step toward change and to support the legal evolution that can only come from within other cultures and our own.”

The exhibition includes works of art by: Corinna Button (Chicago, IL), James Deeb (Evanston, IL), Sheila Ganch (Chicago, IL), Claire Girodie (Baltimore, MD), Charles Gniech (Chicago, IL), Sergio Gomez (Chicago, IL), Andrea Harris (Chicago, IL), Teresa Hofheimer [Chicago IL], Lelde Kalmite, [Chicago, IL], Paula Kloczkowski Luberda (Naperville, IL), Richard Laurent (Chicago, IL), Kathy Liao (Seattle, WA), Chandrika Marla (Highland Park, IL), Zoriah Miller (New York, NY, Paris, France), Nancy Rosen (Chicago, IL), Lorraine Sack (Indianapolis, IN), Dominic Sansone (Chicago, IL), Valerie Schiff (Chicago, IL), Barbara Simcoe (Omaha, NE), and Anne Smith Stephan (Wilmette, IL)

The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions will be on display through November 13. A public Opening Reception will take place on Friday, October 16 from 7-10pm. The Bridgeport Art Center is located at 1200 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609. The gallery is open Monday–Saturday 8am-6pm and Sunday 8am-12pm. Most of the pieces included in the exhibition are available for purchase. Additional information can be found at BreakingCriminalTraditions.com.

Arlene Tarpey in "Pastels Chicago 2015" at The Art Center-Highland Park

Arlene Tarpey, Exploration No. 1, Pastel, 30" x 26"

Last week, the Chicago Pastel Painters’ Fifth Biennial National Juried Exhibition opened at The Art Center-Highland Park. The exhibition, titled "Pastels Chicago 2015," consists of eighty-six works of art created in the medium of pastel. Mostly representational, the imagery represents a diversity of styles and subject matter. With few pieces exploring abstraction, "Exploration No. 1" by local artist, Arlene Tarpey, is a stand-out. Tarpey's work pushes past the expected rendition of the beautiful still life, life-like portraiture and stunning landscape to a conceptual highpoint—allowing the viewer to have an alternative experience... one of surface, line and form—at it purest.

A public reception for “Pastels Chicago 2015” will be held at The Art Center-Highland Park on Friday, October 2 from 6:30–9pm. The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, Illinois. Gallery Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9am–4:30pm. All work in the exhibition is available for purchase. The exhibition continues through October 31.

Roland Kulla ~ Structural Complexities

Roland Kulla, Airline II, 48" x 60"

An Opening Reception for Roland Kulla's most recent body of photo-realistic bridge paintings will take place at ZIA Gallery on Saturday, September 12TH from 5-8PM.

Kulla—a long time friend—has been exploring the visual patterns and repetition of bridges for more than fifteen years. The painted web-like steel structures seem to be metaphor for the obstacles in life... not barriers but the day-to-day challenges that make us alter course—if only temporarily. The beauty of the paintings continues with a peaceful and brilliant backdrop of atmospheric freedom. This—must see—series is filled with amazingly beautiful and complex compositions.

ZIA Gallery is located at 548 Chestnut in Winnetka, Illinois. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10–5. Street parking is plentiful.
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Almost Human ~ The work of Beth Carter

 On a recent trip to New York, I met Lauren Wagner, an art consultant for Axelle Fine Art Galerie in Soho. Wagner is an amazingly passionate consultant who clearly loves the work that she represents.

Walking into the gallery at 472 West Broadway, it was hard not to approach the ominous sculptures that greeted visitors. The dark and almost-human works of British artist, Beth Carter drew me in like a moth to a flame. The sinister looking creatures— sometimes bronze and sometimes resin—expose sensitive, human emotions, deflecting the expected horror associated with monsters. The characters can be found reading a book, attempting to repair the petal of a flower, or gazing at a moth. They touch the heart of the viewer—the segment that knows that our exterior shell is just a shell.

I strongly suggest stopping in to Axelle Fine Art on your next trip to Manhattan. The summer group show, which includes Beth Carter, concludes on September 13. Introduce yourself to consultant Lauren Wagner. She’s amazing.

Beth Carter, Minotaur and Moth, Bronze. Edition of 15. 13″x10”x12”

Beth Carter received her degree in Fine Art from Sunderland University in the United Kingdom. In 1995, she was awarded 1st prize in the “Northern Graduate Show ‘95” at The Royal College of Art, London. Afterwards, she traveled to Sri Lanka and India to study mythological sculpture. She later travelled to New Zealand, Mexico, Gambia, Kenya and Tanzania to further explore the precedents for this genre of sculpture. Her work has been shown in the US and abroad and appears in private collections throughout Europe, Asia and the US.
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The Art Center-Highland Park presents: PASTELS CHICAGO 2015

Nancie Mertz, “Catching Rays on Chicago Avenue”, pastel, 15” x 36”

Save the Date - Friday October 2

The Art Center-Highland Park will be hosting the Chicago Pastel Painters’ Fifth Biennial National Juried Open Exhibition, “Pastels Chicago 2015”. The exhibition will consist of approximately 100 works of art created in the medium of pastel with imagery presented in a diversity of visual styles and subject matter, created by the most elite pastel painters from across the country. The aspiration of the Chicago Pastel Painters is to educate the public about the beauty and permanence of pastels as a viable medium in the world of fine art.

Judith Carducci, Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America, is the Curator of the exhibition. Richard McKinley—Pastel Society of America's Hall of Fame Inductee—is the awards judge and will reveal his selections at the opening reception on Friday, October 2, 2015, 6:30–9pm.

A public reception for “Pastels Chicago 2015” will be held at The Art Center-Highland Park on Friday, October 2 from 6:30–9pm. The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, Illinois. Gallery Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9am–4:30pm and Sunday, by appointment. All work in the exhibition is available for purchase. The exhibition opens on September 11 and continues through October 31.


The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level.

Chicago Pastel Painters - Founded in 2004, the Chicago Pastel Painters, a society member of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), is a non-profit fine arts organization completely run by volunteers dedicated to the education, exhibition, promotion and development of professional, original works of art in the medium of soft pastel in the Chicagoland area.

Juror of Selections - Judith Carducci, PSA
Listed in Who’s Who in American Art, Judith Carducci has received international recognition as one of today’s best portrait painters. Her work has been shown in such venues as The National Arts Club and the Salmagundi Club in New York City, the Cahoon Museum of American Art, and the Butler Institute of American Art.

Judge of Awards - Richard McKinley, PSA
Richard McKinley has been a professional working artist for 38 years and has over 35 years of teaching experience. In 2010 he was inducted into The Pastel Society of America’s Hall of Fame at the National Arts Club in NYC. An avid plein air painter, he is a frequent contributing editor for the Pastel Journal Magazine.
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Meditative Surfaces ~ one final day at TAC

Meditative Surfaces at The Art Center-Highland Park will close on Friday, July 10th at 4:30pm. If you haven't yet had an opportunity to experience this exhibition, your time is limited.

This version of the always-evolving fine art exhibition, Meditative Surfaces, brings together the work of six very different artists—with a visually reoccurring theme that explores the meditative influences of variations on repetition. The show is comprised of two painters; Charles Gniech [myself] and Rebecca Moy, a mixed media artist; Deanna Krueger, two photographers; Maggie Meiners and Doug Fogelson, as well as sculptor; Josh Garber. The work produced by this group of artists, is assembled to encourage audience introspection.

The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park. The gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 9-4:30 and on Sunday, by appointment. All of the works on exhibition are available for purchase.

The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level. 

The Collectors Panel Discussion at TAC

"...Buy it because you love it madly, because it makes you happy, melancholy, or nostalgic, because it touches a nerve in you, because it makes you feel—not because it may, one day, be worth a lot of money. Mere speculation is not, in itself, a reason to own art. If you buy it, buy it because you have, in some way, been moved by it—because it speaks to you in a soft whisper that only you can hear..." explains Independent Curator and Photographer, Susan Aurinko, one of four speakers at the Collectors Panel Discussion, presented last night at The Art Center-Highland Park.

The event offered opinions and a variety of stories from the guest panelists who came from different segments of the arts industry. Aurinko, was the Founder and Director for FLATFILEgalleries. Still a Consultant, her insights were thoughtful and unique—pointing out in an essay on collecting fine art, that "...collecting out of passion is far more valid than collecting out of a desire for eventual financial reward." Frank Paluch, the Director of Perimeter Gallery located in Chicago's River North Gallery District, agreed. Paluch—with great eloquence—went on to tell the story of a client who asked if a particular work that he was considering for his collection, would increase in value. Almost re-living the experience, Paluch paused, smiled and said—very clearly—"...you really never know."

The quiet manner and unexpectedly-perfect comedic timing of Peter Bartlow added numerous moments of humor to the event. An authority on the works of Chagall, Miro and Picasso, his contribution to the discussion was priceless—with perceptions based on his experience with high-end collectors.

The final member of the panel was Joan Arenberg, Private Collector and President of "Art on the Move Tours". Arenberg began a wonderful discussion of her experience meeting artists in their studios. She—as well as Aurinko—frequent the numerous open studio events that occur throughout the community each month.

The evening offered insight into the panel's personal collections... their first acquisitions, who they collect most and why.With a majority of Artists in the room, the question and answer segment turned to representation and how to get noticed. These questions were addressed but the most important take away was for artists to get there work in front of the public. Perhaps that will be a topic for a future TAC event ...which will offer coffee [as well as wine] and perhaps use of a microphone for the attendees in the back of the room. My apologies.

Thank you to our panel of experts... The knowledge they shared was invaluable. Without their generosity, events like this would not be possible. And special thanks to Maggie Meiners for her connections!

Our Panel: Joan Arenberg, Peter Bartlow, Susan Aurinko, and Frank Paluch - Deanna Krueger Image

The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level. The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, IL 60035

The Speakers:
Joan Arenberg, President of "Art on the Move Tours" and private collector has led and designed over 250 tours for Potpourri at The Art Institute of Chicago. Day tours exploring Chicago as well as national travel programs feature visits to artist studios, museums, special exhibitions, sculpture parks and give participants the opportunity and responsibility to learn about art, and to explore, and continue to explore the wide range of fine art possibilities.

Susan Aurinko, as a curator, has created more than 230 exhibitions, both at FLATFILEgalleries—the gallery she founded and directed for nine years—and in a variety of other venues, including IIT, and exhibitions for both the Japanese and Danish governments. Aurinko sits on the Boards of Directors of Chicago Artists Coalition and Apprentice Lab, as well as the Advisory Board of Filter Photo Festival and the International Photography Awards (Lucie Awards).

Peter Bartlow is an authority in the works of Chagall, Miro and Picasso whose involvement with art dealing began in 1972 when he opened his first art gallery. He and his wife, Audrey, met as graduate History of Art students and have two children. In addition to expertise in Modern Master graphics, he has discovered and placed hundreds of paintings by Willy Ramos, Anna Caser, Doug Hatch, Rudolf Svehla and others. He is currently consulting for high net worth collectors.

Frank Paluch has directed Perimeter Gallery in Chicago’s River North Gallery district for 30 years. In addition to curating numerous exhibitions, Paluch has also juried museum competitions including University of Illinois, Milwaukee Art Museum, University of Wisconsin, The Racine Art Museum, and The Renwick Craft Invitational at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. Paluch has a background as a professional photographer and his work is in a number of museum collections in the United States and Europe.

Tonight: A Collectors Panel Discussion

Please join me this evening when I will be hosting a Collectors Panel Discussion at The Art Center-Highland Park.  The event, beginning at 7pm, will be a discussion of what and why Collectors collect... from the point of view of the Dealer as well as the Collector. The panel will include: Joan Arenberg; Private Collector, Susan Aurinko; Founder of FLATFILEgalleries, Peter Bartlow; Director of Bartlow Gallery and Frank Paluch; Director of Perimeter Gallery. This is a free event. Doors will open to the public at 6:30pm. The event will conclude at 8:30pm.

The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, IL 60035

About our Speakers:
Joan Arenberg, President of "Art on the Move Tours" and private collector has led and designed over 250 tours for Potpourri at The Art Institute of Chicago. Day tours exploring Chicago as well as national travel programs feature visits to artist studios, museums, special exhibitions, sculpture parks and give participants the opportunity and responsibility to learn about art, and to explore, and continue to explore the wide range of fine art possibilities.

Susan Aurinko, as a curator, has created more than 230 exhibitions, both at FLATFILEgalleries—the gallery she founded and directed for nine years—and in a variety of other venues, including IIT, and exhibitions for both the Japanese and Danish governments. Aurinko sits on the Boards of Directors of Chicago Artists Coalition and Apprentice Lab, as well as the Advisory Board of Filter Photo Festival and the International Photography Awards (Lucie Awards).

Peter Bartlow is an authority in the works of Chagall, Miro and Picasso whose involvement with art dealing began in 1972 when he opened his first art gallery. He and his wife, Audrey, met as graduate History of Art students and have two children. In addition to expertise in Modern Master graphics, he has discovered and placed hundreds of paintings by Willy Ramos, Anna Caser, Doug Hatch, Rudolf Svehla and others. He is currently consulting for high net worth collectors.

Frank Paluch has directed Perimeter Gallery in Chicago’s River North Gallery district for 30 years. In addition to curating numerous exhibitions, Paluch has also juried museum competitions including University of Illinois, Milwaukee Art Museum, University of Wisconsin, The Racine Art Museum, and The Renwick Craft Invitational at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. Paluch has a background as a professional photographer and his work is in a number of museum collections in the United States and Europe. 

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The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level.

Opening this weekend at The Art Center-Highland Park

There are four wonderful exhibitions opening this weekend at The Art Center-Highland Park. Although the exhibitions are on view, the reception is scheduled for Friday, May 22 from 6:30-9pm. The shows include: Meditative Surfaces, Aftereffect; a solo exhibition by Teresa Hofheimer, From Nature; a national juried exhibition and a presentation of public sculpture by Eric H. Steele.

This latest version of the always-evolving fine art exhibition, Meditative Surfaces, brings together the work of six very different artists—with a visually reoccurring theme that explores the meditative influences of variations on repetition. The show is comprised of two painters; Charles Gniech [myself] and Rebecca Moy, a mixed media artist; Deanna Krueger, two photographers; Maggie Meiners and Doug Fogelson, as well as sculptor; Josh Garber. The work produced by this group of artists, is assembled to encourage audience introspection.

Teresa Hofheimer, Loss of Innocence, pastel on linen 48 x 30"

Teresa Hofheimer - Aftereffect
Aftereffect is a series of paintings and drawings—produced sporadically over the past decade—which address the power and resilience of the human spirit in the aftermath of tragedy. The work is a reaction to our society’s increase in gun violence. Hofheimer points-out that “Since 2001, more than 5,000 people have been killed on the streets of Chicago, outpacing the 2,000 killed in Afghanistan.” She continues to explain the victims are typically our youth. Half the recent victims are under the age of twenty-five. The concept is harsh yet the imagery is approachable and thought provoking.

Jody Berns, In the Heat of the Night, photograph 12 x 12"

With beautifully composed imagery created by conceptually driven fine artists, From Nature— national juried exhibition—offers a fresh look at the world around us. The exhibition presents an exciting and alternative view of elements found within nature. Highland Park resident, Jody Berns is included in the exhibition with a twelve-inch square black and white digital photograph titled “In the Heat of the Night”. The image presents a confined thorny botanical composition utilizing strong chiaroscuro to silhouette the sharp yet inviting forms. The title alludes to the passions of the forbidden—like Joseph Cornell’s boxes—presenting the uncomfortable dichotomy of pleasure and pain. Less conceptual imagery in also included.

Eric H. Steele, Victor, steel, 96 x 28.5 x 21

TAC also presents the large-scale sculpture of Eric H. Steele in The Center's sculpture garden with smaller pieces shown in the foyer. Steele’s beautiful steel constructions address the space between destruction and hope. Steele's work will be presented through December 12th. The other shows mentioned above continue through July 10.

The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park. The gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 9-4:30 and on Sunday, by appointment. All of the works on exhibition are available for purchase.

The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level. 

Meditative Surfaces ~ The Art Center-Highland Park

Doug Fogelson, “Dirt (Illinois)”, Photogram / Ed. of 6, 24" x 20"

Save the Date: Friday, May 22, 6:30-9pm

The always evolving fine art exhibition "Meditative Surfaces" will be presented at The Art Center-Highland Park from May 7 through July 10 with an open reception on Friday, May 22 from 6:30-9pm. This exhibition brings together the work of six-very different-fine artists with a visually reoccurring theme of variations on repetition. The show is comprised of two painters; Charles Gniech & Rebecca Moy, a mixed media artist; Deanna Krueger, two photographers; Maggie Meiners & Doug Fogelson, and sculptor; Josh Garber.
 
Originally presented as a three-person exhibition exhibited at Schoenherr Art Gallery, North Central College; Naperville, Illinois in 2009, the work invited the audience to "lose themselves" in the surface patterns and textures the meditative acrylic paintings of Charles Gniech, the mixed media imagery of Deanna Krueger and the abstract photography of Maggie Meiners. The updated show has further evolved to present the most current works of the original three and to explore new objects of interest including the tactile aluminum sculpture of Josh Garber, photograms in saturated hues by Doug Fogelson, and the whimsical and organically complex paintings by Rebecca Moy.
 
It's true that a picture is worth a thousand words... The exhibition is a journey that offers a glimpse into each individual artist's life through the experience of his or her personal passion.  While each piece of art offers a unique visual experience, the work comes together to offer a grander message—one of sanctuary, inner piece and harmony. As with a dramatic sunrise, Not at all quite and reserved, the show presents visuals evoking every emotion. Color palettes range from peacefully subtle muted tones to brilliant saturated hues. And as in nature, the forms range from organic to aggressive.

A public reception for “Meditative Surfaces” will be held at The Art Center-Highland Park on Friday, May 22 from 6:30-9. The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, Illinois. Gallery Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9am–4:30pm and Sunday, by appointment. All work in the exhibition is available for purchase. The exhibition continues through July 10.

The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level. 

Doug Fogelson (Born Chicago 1970) studied photography at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College Chicago. His photographic manipulations are displayed in notable public and private collections such as The J. Paul Getty Center, The Museum of Contemporary Photography, The Cleveland Clinic and exhibited with esteemed galleries. He has been recognized by publications including Art News,Photo District News, Art Forum, and AfterImage. Doug Fogelson founded Front Forty Press, an award-winning independent fine art publishing company, and has taught in the Photography Department of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is an advocate for the fine arts and social/ecological sustainability.

Josh Garber, “Turn”, Powder Coated Welded Aluminum, 39 x 36 x 34"

Josh Garber (Born 1963) works and lives and Chicago. He is a recipient of the Canada Council B Grant and Pollock-Krasner grant and has completed public commissions in Phoenix, Chicago and Cincinnati. After receiving his BFA from Alfred University, Garber participated in The Kohler and Sculpture Space residencies. Currently he is represented with Zolla/Lieberman Gallery in Chicago, Turner Carroll Gallery in Santa Fe and Melissa Morgan in Palm Desert, CA. 

Charles Gniech, “Anomaly”, Acrylic on Canvas, 40” x 60”

Charles Gniech (Born: Chicago 1962) lives and works in Chicago. He holds a Master of Fine Art degree with an emphasis in painting and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in illustration, both from Northern Illinois University. While teaching, curating, and consulting, Gniech continues to paint—exhibiting at the national level. His work has been repeatedly presented at both The Rockford Art Museum and The Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Gniech’s paintings have been acquired for numerous public and private collections, with a large canvas recently purchased for the Permanent Collection of The Fort Wayne Museum of Art. His work is represented by Bluestone Gallery in Philadelphia and Gallery H in Three Oaks, Michigan. 

Deanna Krueger, “Neptune” Mixed Media, 63” x 63”

Born and raised in Michigan (1965) and currently living in Chicago, Deanna Krueger is an Instructor at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, teaching courses in painting and design. Krueger holds a Master of Fine Art degree from Eastern Michigan University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Michigan. She has been awarded artist residencies at Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts in Saratoga, WY, at Ragdale in Lake Forest, IL, and at Contemporary Artist Center In North Adams, MA. Krueger’s work has been exhibited nationally as well as internationally with exhibits in Berlin and Rome. A solo exhibition of Krueger’s work was presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago in 2010, and at Wright Gallery at College of Lake County in 2015. Krueger’s work has been acquired for a number of public and private collections including a recent acquisition for the Permanent Collection of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

Maggie Meiners, “Untitled #3”, Photographic Print, 10” x 10”

Maggie Meiners (Born: Chicago 1972) work has most recently been seen as part of the Chicago Project-Catherine Edelman Gallery, the Anne Loucks Gallery in Glencoe and is currently up at HBF Textiles in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. She has also exhibited at various museums and colleges around the country. Maggie’s work is included in numerous public and private collections including, Harrison Street Lofts, Wheaton College, and The Illinois Institute of Art. Meiners currently serves on the Board of the Filter Photo Festival, is a member of the Advisory Committee at the Museum of Contemporary Photography and is the Founder of Co-Star Collective. Meiners grew up outside of Chicago and continues to have her work regularly featured at galleries, executive offices and private collections.

Rebecca Moy, “Aquatic”, Acrylic on Canvas, 44” x 48” 

Rebecca Moy (Born: 1980, LaGrange, Illinois), is a 2003 graduate of Columbia College Chicago where she studied visual arts management. Since, Rebecca has completed a visual arts residency at River East Art Center, Chicago; worked with the Field Museum for live painting exhibitions and has had the honor of exhibiting solo at the prestigious Union League Club, Chicago, Illinois Institute of Art, Park Schreck Gallery, Curly Tale Fine Art, Heir Gallery and Orland Park Public Library, IL and several other group exhibitions. Rebecca’s paintings are in the permanent collections of Neiman Marcus, The Dana Hotel, Resonant Legal Media, Northwestern Mutual, MD2 International, and several privately owned. Rebecca simultaneously works on private commissions and is in the beginning of a new series entitled “Aphasia” which directly addresses the experience of losing a parent in her unique sense of color and composition.