Rhonda Popko Artwork at Leela Arts Center

The Des Plaines Art Guild's president, Rhonda Popko, will be displaying her artwork in the lobby area of the Leela Arts Center, 620 Lee Street, during the months of February and March. This is a new and exciting venue for members of the DPAG to showcase their work.

Rhonda is an artist, teacher, passionate gardener and culinary entrepreneur. Her artwork has evolved over the past 40 years as an exploration of different media and materials applied to a mix of surfaces manifested primarily through painting, printmaking and textiles. For over 30 years, she taught adults and children at the Science & Arts Academy and the Des Plaines Park District. She has been recognized for her interdisciplinary approach to arts curriculum that spans the core disciplines of history, science, math and language arts.

Before moving to teaching full-time, Rhonda owned and operated a number of businesses including the Popko Studio Gallery, an art boutique in downtown Des Plaines; Pandora's Pantry, a catering company; and the Good People's Food Co-op, a 100 family food cooperative. She is also the author of "The Book of Basic Sewing" published in 1980 by McVey & Associates.

A recipient of the Studs Terkel Humanitarian Award from the Illinois Humanities Council in 2000, Rhonda has received that and other accolades for her dedication to bringing art and cultural enrichment to her community.

For more information, please visit leelaartscenter.com. To become a member of the Des Plaines Art Guild, please download a membership form at dpag.org.