The exhibit, "Portraits of America's Veterans: A Visual Dialogue" by artists Jeanine Hill-Soldner and Leisa Corbett is displayed at Sage Gallery, Lakeside Legacy Arts, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. An artists reception will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6.

"Portraits of America's Veterans Project" was created by Hill-Soldner as a continuation of her work with art about war and veterans. The exhibit incorporates original oil paintings of local American veterans with photographs and stories about the veterans told in their own words. The veterans meet with the artist in her studio for an interview, a photo shoot and sketching session before the paintings begins. This project is in the beginning phase of representing American veterans in narrative context where the paintings and stories provide a visual dialogue, and a connection between the viewer and the veteran. Hill-Soldner plans to include veterans of all ages, both men and women. The first phase of the project will exhibit in November in the Sage Gallery, Lakeside Legacy Arts Park in Crystal Lake.

Algonquin artist Hill-Soldner was born in Quantico, Va. and raised in a military family. The artist has become known for her innovative style and strong, dynamic lyrical and figurative works. She is an award winning artist with a master's degree in art education from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. The artist's many exhibits include the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago, Museum of Fine Art, Florida State University. This October and November, her work is at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Her art has been featured in many publications and the artist's profile was featured on a PBS television documentary. Hill-Soldner is owner of Soldner Fine Art Studio in the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park in Crystal Lake.

Guest artists from the Vet Art Project and the National Veterans Art Museum Photography will appear.

In addition to the art by Hill-Soldner there will be an exhibit of photographs from the permanent collection of the National Veterans Museum founded by Vietnam Veterans. The photographs are by veterans from wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

There will be a special performance by pioneering alternative-classical pianist Frances Mai-Ling during the artist reception.

The exhibit is free and open to the public to this with a special invitation to veterans and their families. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For information, call (815) 455-8000.