Elmhurst show features work by local artists

The Elmhurst Artists' Guild's Fall Members Show, opening this weekend, presents the original contemporary artwork of more than 50 emerging artists from the greater Chicago area.

The annual show opens Sunday, Sept. 24, and continues through Saturday, Nov. 4, in the EAG Gallery at the Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst. The public is invited to the free opening reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept 29.

The artists' breadth of styles and media encompasses dramatically different artworks, including watercolor, ceramics, oil, acrylic, digital, collage, photographic and sculptural works involving landscapes, portraits, abstract and other styles.

Printmaker Ben Calvert will exhibit "Josh's Rocks," a softly colored woodblock relief print on paper. The work was inspired by a hike in Joshua Tree National Park in California.

"I enjoy creating prints which reflect my life experiences," Calvert said. "Sometimes the subject is easily identifiable, sometimes less so. Hearing how others interpret and relate to my work adds to my personal story."

Personal experiences by the artists inform other works, such as "Corner Diner," a watercolor by Bret Steinhaus. The piece is an urban image of a man and his glass reflections, seated inside a diner underneath the Chicago CTA L tracks.

The urban experience continues with Tony Abboreno's painting, "Crown Fountain at Millennium Park," depicting the tall iconic fountain with a face spitting a stream of water on the crowd of children and adults, tourists and locals, delighting in the cooling spray and the splash on their feet.

"Fall Birch," an acrylic painting by Kera Bjerga, is one of a series of boldly colorful birch trees painted in different seasons.

"I love experiencing every season, and especially the colors and weather of fall. I love that the change of a season can instantly change my mood and affect my joy," Bjerga said.

Most artworks in the exhibit are for sale.

"The EAG Gallery provides an opportunity to acquire great art by living artists at affordable prices. Purchases enrich the lives of the collectors, make our homes and offices more interesting, and support the artists as well as the guild and the Elmhurst Art Museum," guild President Cassie Swierenga said.

The exhibition can be viewed during regular museum hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.

Admission is $9 for adults and $8 for seniors, except the first Friday of each month when admission is free. Museum and guild members, students and children younger than 18 are always free. For information, visit elmhurstartistsguild.org and elmhurstartmuseum.org.