Previews of upcoming arts events

RHS Exhibit Features Fashion as Art 

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“Threads of Imagination,” an exhibit exploring fashion as an art form through the creative work of five Beverly/Morgan Park artists, one of whom was an historical figure, continues at Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley. Info: 773-881-1675 or ridgehistory@hotmail.com. 

Alla Ripley Bannister (1867-1948) was a famous fashion designer who lived at 1620 West 102nd Street in the early 1900s. She used the professional name “Madame Ripley” and had a studio on Michigan Avenue. She was a savvy businesswoman and marketer. Through her organization, the Fashion Art League of America, she promoted “American designs for American women,” helping to establish U. S. designers in the global fashion industry. The RHS exhibit profiles Ripley, her family and career. 

Ripley’s husband was architect George S. Bannister, who designed and built the Dickey-Harris House at 10856 S. Longwood Drive, where Paul P. Harris, the founder of Rotary International lived for many years.  Bannister also designed the American Craftsman-style home for his family on 102nd Street.  

Contemporary artist Judie Anderson worked as a fashion illustrator for Chicago’s American newspaper in the 1960s, and work from this period of her career is on display at RHS. Anderson and her husband, the late Bill Anderson, started the first school of the arts at the Beverly Arts Center in 1972. Anderson had a 20-year career with the Chicago Tribune, retiring as director of design. Today she continues watercolor painting, teaching and exhibiting. 

Maggie O’Reilly grew up on the Ridge and now raises her own family here. The RHS exhibit features pieces from her two companies, Maggy May & Co., a girls’ clothing line; and the MAYTA Collection, which works with artisans in Morocco and Peru to create handcrafted fashion and household accessories. MAYTA is a member of Chicago Fair Trade, a coalition to increase support for fair trade practices.     

Two of Sandra Leonard’s “sculptural costumes,” fashions she creates that turn the human form into sculpture, are on display. Her costumes appear internationally in performance art productions, improvised theater, alternative fashion shows and installation projects. She has designed interactive costumes for children for the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum and Art Institute of Chicago.   

Nicole Burns of Ni Bu Design is also a Ridge native now raising her own daughter here. She incorporates vintage fabrics and fashions into new art forms. Her work in the exhibit includes clothing, bags, dolls and sculptures. She also collects vintage sewing items and some of these are on display, bringing viewers back full circle to 100 years ago when Madame Alla Ripley was producing fashions.     

Another historic feature of the exhibit is a section on the “silk connection.” Prominent silk merchants connected to the Belding and Brothers silk business made their homes in North Beverly beginning in the late 1800s. Vintage silk items as well as information on the families are displayed. 

Carol Flynn is guest Curator for the exhibit, and researcher/writer for the Alla Ripley Bannister section. 

Linda Lamberty, RHS Historian, is the designer of the exhibit. She reached out to Alla’s family through the website Ancestry.com, and great-niece Lanora Harris King has shared family photographs and information for the exhibit. 

RHS is located at 10621 S. Seeley Ave. Open hours for the exhibit will be posted on the RHS Facebook page and RHS website at www.ridgehistoricalsociety.org.  

On Sun., Nov. 17, 2 p.m. at RHS, Judie Anderson will discuss her career in the newspaper industry, and will demonstrate a fashion illustration, which a lucky member of the audience will win to take home. Admission is $10. Reservations: 773–881-1675 or ridgehistory@hotmail.com. 

Nightlife & Entertainment

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BACinema: Chicagoland Shorts, Weds., Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m. The Chicagoland Shorts Film anthology comes to the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., this month with an all new collection of short films spanning genres and worlds to celebrate the diversity of the Chicagoland experience.  $6/ $5 BAC members, www.beverlyartcenter.org  

Up in Smoke: Sat., Sept. 7 & Sun. Sept. 8. Live music, BBQ and more at Americano’s 1st annual Up in Smoke BBQ festival. Swing by the Americano’s parking lot, 11060 S. Western, for tacos, margaritas, cervezas and performances from local rock bands.  The fest promises to bring a scorching good! $10 for both days. Info: Americano’s Facebook page.  

Friday Night Lites at Cork & Kerry. Every Fri., Sept 6- Oct. 25, 6-9 p.m. Don’t miss the game of the week! The Cork & Kerry will be hosting Friday Night Football watching parties as they cheer on all their favorite local high school teams. $12 buckets of light beer and free pizza at halftime for all those watching.  Family Friendly. Info: @CorkandKerryChicago on Facebook. 

Beverly POV Documentary Screening: Thurs., Sept. 12, 1:30 p.m.  Beverly Branch Library, 1962 W. 95th St., hosts a screening of “306 Hollywood” from filmmakers Elan and Jonathan Bogarin. The film follows the magical-realist excavation of their late grandmother’s home and the things left behind. Free.  

Great Moments in Vinyl: Paul Simon’s “Graceland.” Fri., Sept. 13, 8 p.m. Join the Beverly Arts Center and Great Moments in Vinyl as they bring the music of Paul Simon to the stage. The evening will feature songs from Simon’s early career in the opening set, and then all the tracks off “Graceland” accompanied by a chorus of voices designed to capture the vibrant sounds of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.  $30/ $27 BAC members, www.beverlyartcenter.org. 

BACinema: “Eleven P.M.” Weds., Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m. A medley of “sentimentality, spirituality and the supernatural,” and a rare surviving work from pioneering African American independent filmmaker Richard Maurice, this 1928 silent film survives as a surreal melodrama and a love letter to 1920’s Detroit. Co-presented with South Side Projections, this screening at the Beverly Arts Center will feature live musical accompaniment from organist Jay Warren. $6/ $5 BAC members, www.beverlyartcenter.org. 

BAC: World Music Festival. Thurs., Sept. 19, 7 p.m. The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events brings this free music festival to the Beverly Arts Center with performances by the Yandong Grand Singers, a choir from China’s Guizhou province, and Lankum, a contemporary folk quartet from Dublin, Ireland.  Free.  Info: 773-445-3838,  www.beverlyartcenter.org.  

Cork & Kerry Comedy Showcase. Thurs., Sept 19, 8 p.m. The Cork and All That Good Stuff Comedy are bringing local jokes to a local audience with their South Side comedy showcase! Kick back with cold beers, white claws and great laughs. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., seating is first come first served. Free. Info: @allthatgoodstuffshow on Facebook. 

BAC Stand Up Comedy Night. Fri., Sept. 27, 8 p.m. Chicago comedy stars take the stage at the Beverly Arts Center for a night full of hilarity. Join WGN’s Steve Cochran, host of Chicago’s #1 morning radio talk show, John DaCosse, as seen on NBC and Comedy Central, and host Tim Benker as they captivate with comedy for one night only. $30/$27 BAC members, www.beverlyartcenter.org 

Midnight Circus In the Park. Sat., Sept. 28 & Sun., Sept. 29, 2 and 5 p.m. The Midnight Circus returns to Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood, with a wildly eclectic ensemble of acrobats and eccentrics that will defy gravity, tickle the funny bone and tug at the heartstrings. Presented as a part of the City of Chicago’s Year of Chicago Theatre. $25, www.midnightcircus.net. 

Documentary Film: “The Area.” Sat., Sept 28, 7:30 p.m. PullmanArts presents their 2nd annual documentary film screening at the Beverly Arts Center with “The Area,” the five-year odyssey of a South Side Chicago neighborhood where more than 400 African-American families are being displaced by a multi-billion–dollar freight company. Screening followed by a Q&A with filmmakers Deborah Payne and Brian Ashby. $6/$5 BAC members, www.beverlyartcenter.org. 

Boundary: David Heo Opening Reception. Sat., Sept. 28, 6-9 p.m. Boundary Art Space, 2334 W. 111th Pl., hosts the opening reception for Chicago painter David Heo’s installation “Leviathan,” which explores the complexity of Asian-American identity within American culture and the misunderstood human interactions that one experiences during the night. Exhibit runs through Oct. 26. www.boundarychicago.space. 

Roy DIblik Garden of Living Art to Be Dedicated at BAC 

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When Roy Diblik spoke at a meeting of the Garden Club of Morgan Park/ Beverly Hills in spring, the Baffes Theatre at the Beverly Arts Center was teeming with people eager to hear what he had to say. Diblik wrote the book on perennial gardening, and avid gardeners throughout Chicagoland know him for that book – “The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden” — as well as for his work planning and planting some of the city’s most beautiful gardens. Diblik is the plantsman for the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park, and the gardens at Shedd Aquarium and the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Now, at the invitation of the Garden Club, the plant expert has designed and helped to plant the Roy Diblik Garden of Living Art at the Beverly Arts Center. The garden will be dedicated Wed., Sept. 18, 10 a.m., in the BAC courtyard, 2407 W. 111th St. Diblik will attend the dedication.  

“We were astonished when he accepted [the club’s speaking invitation] and he was astonished with our turn out to hear him speak,” said Barbara Gyarmathy of the Garden Club of Morgan Park/Beverly Hills. “He was so taken by the warmth and enthusiasm . . . he offered to design and help us plant the new garden that is now at the BAC.  It is beyond imaging that someone of his caliber would do this!” 

Diblik returned to the BAC in early August to work alongside members of the garden club to plant the garden that he designed around the core ideal of sustainability.  

“We planted everything based on Roy Diblik’s advice, making sure that the garden has four-season interest,’” Gyarmathy said. “We will be planting something new every season and maintaining the garden throughout the year.”  

The garden was designed using all perennials and native plants that were selected for sustainability in an urban setting as well as for their beauty beauty. BAC patrons will enjoy watching this garden grow! The plants are all relatively mature, about three years old, and include hydrangeas, alliums, echinacea, salvia and sesleria, a perennial grass. 

With 35 years of knowledge growing traditional and Midwest native perennials, Diblik specializes in visually appealing and sustainable gardens that are easy to maintain and provide interest during all seasons. He is a partner in Northwind Perennial Farm, Burlington, Wisc., and according to his bio on the website, “believes that gardens should be thoughtful, ecologically directed emotionally outreaching and yet very personal.”  

The Garden Club of Morgan Park-Beverly Hills was established in 1926 as a way for community members to share a passion for gardening. Over their club history, members have helped to establish many community gardens and develop a love of planting and nature among area gardeners. Club volunteers have tended Beverly Arts Center gardens as part of the BAC’s ground beautification initiative since 2012. 

 

Music, Theater, Classes: Fall into the Arts at BAC 

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Whether you’re a fan of music or theater, or a dedicated student of the fine arts, the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., has a spot for you this fall.  

The 21st Annual World Music Festival Chicago arrives at the BAC Thurs., Sept. 19, 7 p.m., with a concert featuring Lankum and the Yandong Grand Singers. Lankum is a four-piece group from Dublin that combines traditional folk roots with contemporary undercurrents to forge music that is dark, mysterious and transcendental. Lankum channels a diverse set of influences and histories to create a beautifully rare thing: a songbook from and for the people. 

The Yandong Grand Singers is a choir formed by farmers of the Dong ethnic group from Yandong township in Southwestern China’s Guizhou province. The Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group is a unique polyphonic a cappella style. The Dong people, who don’t have a written language, pass along much of their history, culture and knowledge through songs that accompany their people throughout their lives. 

The BAC of one of 17 venues across the city to hose World Music Festival performances. Admission is free and available on a first come, first served basis.  

Other don’t-miss concerts are Great Moments In Vinyl performing Paul Simon’s “Graceland,” Fri., Sept. 13; The Cryan shames with Ronnie Rice, Sat., Oct. 5; and The Grateful String Band, Fri., Oct. 11. Shows are at 8 p.m.  

The BAC’s 2019-2020 professional theater season opens Oct. 12 and has been dubbed the “Season of Inclusion.” Each play presents a theme such as race, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability. 

“The season will take an in-depth look at stories that are frequently overlooked in society,” said Andrew Orrego-Lindstad, Director of Development for the BAC and member of the organization’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “In collaboration with our Diversity and Inclusion Committee, we wanted to further explore and exemplify the values of diversity and equity. We’re happy it’s come to fruition with these incredible productions that will challenge how we perceive aspects of humanity.” 

Theatre productions are “Topdog/Underdog” by Suzan-Lori Parks, Oct. 12 – 20; “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney, Feb. 13 – 16; “Next to Normal” by Brian Yorkey, Apr. 16 – 19; “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare,  June 11 – 14; “Mothers & Sons” by Terrence McNally, June 25 – 28; and “The Good Body” by Eve Ensler, Aug. 20 – 23. 

Tickets to each production are $24 ($22 for BAC members). The $120 Theatre Season Flex Pass will allow purchasers to get six tickets they can use one for each production, all six for one performance, or mix and match.  

BAC School of Fine Arts for the fall classes start the week of Sept. 9, and feature exciting new coursework that inclues Art Start College Prep programming, Stage Combat, Chair Yoga, a Mural Workshop, and a Raku Firing Workshop.  

The Art Start College Prep program is a series of courses designed by Visual Arts Coordinator Jake Saunders, with the goal of preparing teen visual artists for the college application process of creating a portfolio through interviews. Students get the opportunity to study with working professional visual artists community with specializations in Foundations of Design and Art History, Drawing, Illustration, Painting, Ceramics, and Portfolio Building. For information, contact Saunders, jake@beverlyartcenter.org.   

Teens new to the craft of stage combat can enroll in Intro to Sword Play to learn the basics of sword play and different weapon styles, footwork and soft sparring. Additional Stage Combat coursework is available in workshops for teens and adults that cover basics of hand-to-hand, weapon work, and more as participants create fight scenes from stage and screen. 

Chair Yoga, a gentle form of yoga in which postures are performed while sitting in the chair or standing and using the chair for support, is open to all levels and beneficial for students with limited mobility who want to increase their range of motion.  

The Mural Workshop students will leave their mark on the BAC by creating a mural on the first floor of the building. The course guides students in the proper techniques for drafting, sketching, editing, drawing to scale, painting, and final touch-ups.  

Ages 16 and up can take the Raku Firing Workshop to experience the ancient Japanese ceramics technique where pottery is taken from an outdoor kiln while red hot and placed in a material such as sawdust or newspaper to cool. The workshop is presented as a National Endowment of the Arts Artist Residency and students will showcase their work in the BAC’s Simmerling Gallery in January.  

The School of Fine Arts offers private instruction and classes dance, visual arts, music, theatre, and more. Programming is partially supported through a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.  

Find complete class schedule at the BAC or online at www.beverlyartcenter.org. Register online, by phone (773-445-3838) or in-person. 

Chicago Cartoonists to Exhibit Works at Beverly Arts Center 

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National Cartoonists Society Chapter Offers First Ever Exhibit in September
The Chicago Midwest chapter of the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) will host its first ever exhibit of cartoon art by chapter members Sept. 15 through Nov. 3 at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. The exhibit opens with a reception in the Simmerling Gallery, Sun., Sept. 15, 2 to 4 p.m. 

The National Cartoonists Society (NCS) is the largest organization of professional cartoonists in the USA with over 500 members and 22 chapters across the country. One of the organization’s primary purposes is to stimulate interest in the art of cartooning by encouraging aspiring cartoonists and students and to occasionally provide the general public an inside look at the cartoon work of NCS members. 

The NSC chapter members participating in the upcoming exhibit are newspaper comic strip and comic panel artists, caricaturists, magazine gag cartoonists, editorial cartoonists, humorous illustrators, and other professionals working in and around Chicago and surrounding states. 

“It’s not often that cartoonists emerge from their studios to reach out to the public, so this is a great opportunity to meet them in person and see their original work up close,” said Beverly/Morgan Park resident Jim McGreal, a member of the NCS Chicago Midwest Chapter and an organizer of the exhibit. “We have members who work in nearly all aspects of comic art and cartooning, and we’re really excited to be a part of this first-ever event.” 

McGreal, a cartoonist, illustrator and web designer, drew the comic strips “SIBZ” and “Future Shock” which appeared in The Villager and other publications.  

In addition to the exhibit of works of NCS cartoonists in the Simmerling Gallery, an exhibit of works by talented cartooning students from the Vanderpoel Art Association (Chicago) will be on display in the Center’s Atrium Gallery. 

Also in conjunction with the art exhibits, the NCS Chicago Midwest Chapter will host a cartooning open house on the weekend following the exhibit opening. It will be held on Sat., Sept. 21, 12 to 6 p.m., at the Beverly Arts Center as a featured event of the 6th annual Beverly Art Walk. The Beverly Arts Center is a trolley stop on the Walk. The open house will feature two workshops led by professional cartoonists demonstrating their cartoon art, and video cartoon presentations with selected artists in the Center’s Baffes Theatre.  

For more information about the exhibit, visit www.ncs-chicagocartoonists.com. 

 

 

Chicago Cartoonists to Exhibit Works at Beverly Arts Center 

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National Cartoonists Society Chapter Offers First Ever Exhibit in September
The Chicago Midwest chapter of the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) will host its first ever exhibit of cartoon art by chapter members Sept. 15 through Nov. 3 at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. The exhibit opens with a reception in the Simmerling Gallery, Sun., Sept. 15, 2 to 4 p.m. 

The National Cartoonists Society (NCS) is the largest organization of professional cartoonists in the USA with over 500 members and 22 chapters across the country. One of the organization’s primary purposes is to stimulate interest in the art of cartooning by encouraging aspiring cartoonists and students and to occasionally provide the general public an inside look at the cartoon work of NCS members. 

The NSC chapter members participating in the upcoming exhibit are newspaper comic strip and comic panel artists, caricaturists, magazine gag cartoonists, editorial cartoonists, humorous illustrators, and other professionals working in and around Chicago and surrounding states. 

“It’s not often that cartoonists emerge from their studios to reach out to the public, so this is a great opportunity to meet them in person and see their original work up close,” said Beverly/Morgan Park resident Jim McGreal, a member of the NCS Chicago Midwest Chapter and an organizer of the exhibit. “We have members who work in nearly all aspects of comic art and cartooning, and we’re really excited to be a part of this first-ever event.” 

McGreal, a cartoonist, illustrator and web designer, drew the comic strips “SIBZ” and “Future Shock” which appeared in The Villager and other publications.  

In addition to the exhibit of works of NCS cartoonists in the Simmerling Gallery, an exhibit of works by talented cartooning students from the Vanderpoel Art Association (Chicago) will be on display in the Center’s Atrium Gallery. 

Also in conjunction with the art exhibits, the NCS Chicago Midwest Chapter will host a cartooning open house on the weekend following the exhibit opening. It will be held on Sat., Sept. 21, 12 to 6 p.m., at the Beverly Arts Center as a featured event of the 6th annual Beverly Art Walk. The Beverly Arts Center is a trolley stop on the Walk. The open house will feature two workshops led by professional cartoonists demonstrating their cartoon art, and video cartoon presentations with selected artists in the Center’s Baffes Theatre.  

For more information about the exhibit, visit www.ncs-chicagocartoonists.com. 

Nightlife & Entertainment

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By Talie Leeb 

Foodie Friday at the Cork & Kerry, 10614 S. Western Ave, this month with food service 5-8 p.m., and live music 6-9 p.m. This month’s food vendors are Smoking BBQ Kitchen, Aug. 2; Unidad Restaurant, Aug. 9; Yum Dum Truck, Aug. 16; Five Squared, Aug. 23; and Aztec Dave’s, Aug. 30. This is the last month for Foodie Friday’s this year so be sure not to miss out! 

Live Music Mondays: Beverly Arts Center’s live music series concludes this month with two performances: jazz group City Lights Quartet, Aug. 5, 7-9 p.m. and Americana singer/ songwriter Forest Sun Aug. 12, 7-9 p.m. Cash bar and free parking available, see www.beverlyartcenter.org for more information. 

BACinema: Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., presents “Facepalm August,” a celebration of truly terrible cinema, so get ready to groan with “Troll 2,” Weds., Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.  and “Manos: The Hands of Fate” Weds., Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m. Cash bar and free parking available, tickets $6, $5 for BAC members. 773-445-3838 

BAC Black Box Theatre: Beverly Art Center, 2407 W. 111th St., presents “Same Time Next Year,” Aug. 8 through 10, as the conclusion of their 2018-2019 Black Box Season. Fri. And Sat. Performances Aug. 10, 16, and 17, 7:30 p.m., Sun. Matinees Aug. 11 and 18, 2:30 p.m. Tickets $22/ $20 BAC members. www.beverlyartcenter.org 

Shakespeare in the Park: On Sat., Aug. 10, 6:30 p.m., Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks will present “The Comedy of Errors,” a family-friendly adaptation of William Shakespeare’s delightful story of lost twins, mistaken identity, and one confusing day in Ephesus, at Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood Dr. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, pack a picnic basket and meet friends and family for this annual theater-on-the-lawn experience. The performance is free. www.chicagoplays.com  

Barbara Eberhard Opening Reception: Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., hosts an opening reception for “Alternate View,” an exhibit by Barbara Eberhard, in the Simmerling Gallery, Sun. Aug. 11, 2-4 p.m. The exhibit offers “fleeting visions of the world using an alternative gum printing process” and runs July 28 through Sept. 8. 

Andy Moore Opening Reception: Boundary Art Space, 2334 W. 111th Pl., celebrates the opening of artist Andy Moore’s installation, “Positive,” Sat. Aug. 24, 6-9 p.m. 

Up In Smoke. Americanos, 11060 S. Western, will host Up In Smoke featuring tacos, tequila and live music, Sat., Sept. 7, 12 to 10 p.m., and Sun., Sept. 8, 12 to 8 p.m. $10 at the door gets you a wristband for both days. Bands are Rookie, South City Revival, Railway Gamblers, Motel Breakfast, Harlem Natural, Pat Egan and the Heavy Hearts, The Dead Licks, Workout Music and Kelly Garrity. 

 

 

Summer Solstice Celebrates Local Art and Spirit 

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Summer Solstice Celebrates Local Art and Spirit 

June 21 is the longest day of the year, and the perfect night for the Beverly Area Arts Alliance (The Alliance) to celebrate the spirit, inspiration and interaction of the vibrant local arts community at the Uprising Summer Solstice, 5 to 10 p.m.  

The onset of sizzling summer days and languid summer nights has inspired an event that mixes a quirky variety of hands-on arts activities and music in an outdoor setting 99th and Walden Parkway with the opening reception for the Prairie Gothic art exhibit at the Joplin Marley Co-Creative Space, 9911 S. Walden Pkwy. 

Family friendly art “projects” invite people to create something fun, then take it home. Projects include making flower crowns, doing screen printing with members of the Spudnik Press cooperative and creating unique personalized images of the community on wood.  

Summer’s spirit will be captured in festival hair creations by stylists from Tranquility Salon, Tarot card readings and a bonfire.  

Fans of the Alliance Uprising events can expect to find hand-crafted items from a number of vendors, as well as merchandise from Fair Trade Chicago.  The 99th and Walden shops will also be open.  Available for purchase will be tote bags featuring the Summer Solstice poster graphic created by Chris Wilczak and screen-printed by Spudnik Press.  

The highlight of the event is the opening of Prairie Gothic, a group show featuring works by artists from across Chicago: Kass Copeland, John Walker, Robin Power, Jake Saunders, Larry Tuckman and Kevin Blake, that promises “the dark side of the prairie and the mysteries of the midway will be revealed to the more curious among you.” Following the Summer Solstice, viewings can be scheduled with exhibit curator Sal Campbell, sal@beverlyarts.org. The exhibit closes with a reception Sat., July 20, 7 to 10 p.m. 

Summer Solstice food vendors include Ellie’s Café. Music will be supplied by DJ Ruta Spencer and pop-up musicians.  

The Alliance was formed in 2014 to coordinate art-focused events and projects fostering collaboration between artists and the community. The Alliance presents the Beverly Art Walk, The Frunchroom reading series, art exhibits and music events. Learn more at beverlyarts.org.  

 

 

Art Fair & Festival Returns to Ridge Park this Summer 

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More than 40 artists will be exhibiting and selling original works at the 2nd annual Ridge Park Art Fair & Festival Sat., June 22, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Ridge Park Cultural Center, 9625 S. Longwood Dr. The event is being planned and presented by the Ridge Park Advisory Council (RPAC) and John H. Vanderpoel Art Association along with the Chicago Park District. 

A highlight of cultural opportunities in the community, the Ridge Park Art Fair & Festival will feature work across a wide variety of media, including paintings, sculptures, textiles, photographs, jewelry, art glass, leatherwork and more.  

The art fair debut last year was a resounding success, with more than 1000 visitors and a host of activities. This year’s festivities will be expanded to include more live music, more kid-friendly options and more food trucks including Misiericordia Hearts and Flour, Calabria and Pollo Locuas. Children’s and adult beverages will be available.  

Performing music are inspirational singer Gincy Hartin, a local jazz ensemble and the Over the Side Band, a popular cover band.  

New this year are limited edition tote bags featuring a beautiful water color of Ridge Park by famed artist Judie Anderson. Anderson will be will be on hand to sign the bags also and she has donated the original artwork to be auctioned off at the art fair.  

For the kids there will be two bounce houses (one will be just for the little ones), and Twistcity with two amazing shows, one with giant bubbles and the other with balloon twisting.   

As a Chicago Park District cultural center, Ridge Park offers rich and dynamic programming that will be highlighted throughout the art fair and festival. The John H. Vanderpoel Museum Gallery is located in the fieldhouse through the Chicago Park District’s Arts Partners in Residency Program, which unites artists and communities in Chicago’s parks. The gallery hosts a world-class collection of Impressionist paintings and other late 19th and early 20th century paintings and works on paper. Ridge Park Art Fair attendees will have the opportunity to take guided tours of the Vanderpoel Museum, as well as of the park facilities and ceramics studio. 

Information about the Ridge Park Art Fair & Festival is available at www.ridgeparkartfair.org. For more information, contact Irene Testa, irene@vanderpoelartmuseum.org, or Mary Jo Viero, mjviero@yahoo.com.  

 

‘What Makes You Healthy?’ Display Showcases Works by 3rd Grade Artists 

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‘What Makes You Healthy?’ Display Showcases Works by 3rd Grade Artists 

To coincide with National Hospital Week, Little Company of Mary Hospital (LCMH) sponsored an art contest, “What Makes You Healthy,” for third grade students who attend school within LCMH’s primary service area.  

National Hospital Week 2019 celebrated hope and healing, and the hospitals, health systems and women and men who support the health and well-being of their communities through dedication and care from the heart.  

More than 310 entries in the “What Makes You Healthy” came from 14 area elementary schools including Christ the King, Keller Gifted Magnet, St. Cajetan, St. Christina and Vanderpoel Humanities Academy. One winner was selected from each school to have their artwork on display through summer at the hospital, 2800 W. 95th St.  

“Living a healthy lifestyle is a lifelong journey, and we are committed to providing education for all ages to help us all make more informed, healthier life choices,” said Kathleen Kinsella, Chief Operating Officer at LCMH. “The contest is a creative way to initiate important discussions about healthy living, and to enjoy the artistic talents of our local children. We hope the community will visit the hospital to see their great work.”   

Contest submissions ranged from colorful images of fruits and vegetables and various forms of exercise and sports, as well as activities and themes that were specific to the student, such as listening to music, walking their dog, helping the homeless and laughing.