Celebrating art — not politics — at state senator's Villa Park office

State Sen. Tom Cullerton says if he was an artist, the people he painted would come out looking like stick figures.

But while he isn't much with a paint brush himself, the art-loving legislator appreciates the work of others. And with two large bay windows in his historic, storefront Villa Park office, he thought he could put them to good use and serve the community at the same time.

When he saw a student art exhibit in the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago, he knew what he wanted to do — invite aspiring artists to display their work.

“Art seemed to brighten everything up,” he said. “We've got a great place to showcase artwork and we might as well take the opportunity.”

Gallery 338 opened in August in Cullerton's office at 338 S. Ardmore Ave. with Lynda Ortega as curator. Exhibits go up monthly, with December's holiday display featuring 20 portraits of children done by 10 artists.

For tattoo artist Danny Ponce of Lombard, his portrait of a little girl from Guatemala is the first time he's shown his efforts in fine art and he would like to do more.

“It would be a great start,” he said. “She (the girl) is one of my parents' neighbors.”

Ponce is just the type of artist that Ortega likes to exhibit in Gallery 338. Both he, she and many of the other artists displaying their work have been students of College of DuPage art instructor Jennifer Hereth.

Hereth, who has art students ranging in age from 18 to 80, has three portraits of her own in the December exhibit. Two of the portraits she did of her sons after she was diagnosed with cancer a couple years ago. Hereth said portraits of children are popular among her students, but surprisingly controversial.

“It's always risky for artists to do children's portraits because it's seen as absolutely passe,” she said.

But for passer-bys on the street, the art is an attraction.

They stop, look and some come in to buy or inquire how they themselves can exhibit their work.

“It draws a big crowd of people because they walk by,” Ortega said. “For the next six months, we have a whole list of artists.”

In January, artist Pat Pope will show her eclectic paintings. The February Furs & Feathers show will feature pictures of animals.

An artist herself, Ortega did an early show of her scenes of Americana, including one of a gas station attendant.

“Especially the men loved the cars,” she said.

Ortega also has featured artists whose work is more impressionist. Hereth said she is pleased to see Ortega develop her talents as a curator.

“She has just been a house on fire for opportunities for young artists,” Hereth said. “She's doing a great job of really opening it up to a lot of people.”

COD art students also display their works at the Glen Ellyn Public Library and in a chiropractor's office in Elmhurst. But the opportunities for artists to exhibit their work in the suburbs are limited, Ortega said.

The Naperville Art League has a gallery at 508 N. Center St. in Naperville and the DuPage Art League has one at 218 W. Front St., Wheaton, but “aside from Wheaton and Naperville, there are not a lot of galleries,” Ortega said.

Most of the paintings at Gallery 338 go into the bay front windows, but some hang in the senator's reception area. The office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Cullerton, the former village president of Villa Park, said he couldn't be more pleased with his office gallery.

“It's worked out well,” he said. “The community likes it.”

Applications for artists who would like to exhibit their work are available at the gallery. Inquiries also may be sent to Lynda Ortega at lyndaortega28@yahoo.com.