Guge Institute hosts open house Saturday at Elgin Artspace
A popular woodcarving institute that started in Gilberts is the newest tenant in downtown Elgin's Artspace Lofts.
The Guge Institute and Art Studio, owned by three-time world champion wood sculptor Josh Guge, will host an open house from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Formerly called the Guge Institute of Wildlife Art, it was founded by Guge and his father, Bob Guge, who died in November after battling brain cancer.
“I told him we were moving the shop to Elgin and he was excited about it, but he never got to see it. He was already in hospice,” Josh Guge said.
“It's kind of sad he's not a part of it.”
A representative of Ludwig Co., which manages Elgin Artspace, said the Guge Institute now occupies the last available commercial space in the building.
Guge said he's been enjoying his modern, 700-square-foot digs in the mixed-use building that also has 55 affordable housing units for artists and their families.
“There are a lot of artists that live and work here, and I thought it would be really neat,” he said. “Elgin has been really big on promoting the arts in the past few years.”
The old location, which closed in September, occupied a part of Josh Guge's home. Guge said he and his wife decided to keep their home and business separate.
The open house will offer information about power carving classes, including detailing and painting, and art classes such as painting, drawing and airbrush.
The Guge Institute and Art Studio is at Elgin Artspace, Suite C, 51 S. Spring St.