Fall in Love with Gallery 200 at Artoberfest
West Chicago, Illinois: September 28, 2015 - Fall in love with Gallery 200, located at 200 Main Street, during its annual Artoberfest, this year themed Art for All Seasons. The month-long event, which coincides with the 10th Anniversary of the Gallery in downtown West Chicago and Illinois Arts & Humanities Month, kicks off with an Artist Reception on Friday, October 2, 2015 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Eleven featured artists include Rita Heim, Heide Morris, Brittta Renwick, Dayna Shaffer, Marge Hall, First Star Art duo Jrr & Jammer, Kathy Steere, Judi Horsley, Andy! Kozlowski, and Sandy McLain; and the work of dozens of other artists will be available for enjoyment and sale.
A division of the not-for-profit People Made Visible (PMV) since 2014, Gallery 200 began as a public/private partnership between the creative community and the City of West Chicago to offer a venue for the talents of its residents and to build a downtown niche for the arts. The City-owned building has served as an incubator for emerging artists, as well as an outlet for professional artists wishing to display and sell their work. It continues to draw energy into the heart of the community through a full schedule of monthly exhibits, art classes, demonstrations and more.
Now, under the umbrella of PMV, Gallery 200 continues to thrive and hopes to grow. Last year, the organization started a Growing Fund to help develop educational opportunities for the community, and has already received generous donations from some of its patrons and donors which has helped kick-start this goal.
Plans to restore the two upper floors of the building, which was built in 1878 by Jane and William Ripley as a hotel which bore their name, are also being pursued. The renovation, which requires an elevator and fire escape, would add valuable gallery space and house a historical exhibit. Discussion has included the possibility of replicating one of its rooms as it was in the building's heyday as the Ripley Hotel.
The following is a list of upcoming classes.
◾Acrylic Painting - October 17, 2015
◾Needle Felting - October 10, 2015
◾Ceramic Pumpkins - October 24, 2015
◾Jewelry-making - October 30, 2015
Gallery 200's hours of operation are Thursday and Friday, 12:00 - 8:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. More details may be found at www.gallery200.com or by calling (630) 293-9550 during open hours.