Art group to honor longtime member
“I can't believe that I've been a member of the Glen Ellyn/Wheaton Associates of the Art Institute group for almost 40 years!” says long-time member and Wheaton resident, Shirley Sauerman. I realized that when someone commented that my membership number sequence was such a low one!
“ I'm not an artist, but I love art.”, she stated. “I have learned so much about art from this group over the years.”
Shirley joined the group in the mid-1970s when they were meeting at Faith Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn. They would have their meetings there, meet there to go on trips, and park in their parking lot.
They used to use a local, now out of business bus company school bus on their trips downtown to the Art Institute. “They had no heat and were pretty bumpy.” The last straw was when one of the buses had duct tape over the window on one of their trips! “ Now we have the most luxurious buses! “
She can remember when dues were only $25 a year and that covered all the meetings, lecturer fees and trips. They used to provide their own food and lunches, too! They even had clever people who provided elegant table settings and centerpieces.
Shirley was secretary of the board for several years and also was transportation
chairman and seminar chairman. She has fond memories of dry runs for trips and artist visits checking out the facilities before they were scheduled. Also, if you were a member of study group, you were expected to provide a program that year.
“I compliment the present board of the Glen Ellyn/Wheaton Associates group
this year. They do an outstanding job planning and organizing the programs and trips.”
If you are interested in this active group, guests are welcome to come to the Dessert and Coffee program at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16 at The
Abbington Distinctive Banquets, 3S002 Route 53, Glen Ellyn. The program will be led by Elizabeth Carlson, museum curator and Illinois Humanities Road Scholar.
Acting as Mamah Wright (the wife of architect Frank Lloyd Wright), she will present “Regretting Mr. Wright: Mamah Tells Her Own Story” and also a PowerPoint program on Mamah's life will be presented by Dororthy Mikusa, Information technology, and study group co-chair for the Art Associates group.
Reservations will be taken Jan. 17-31, 2011 by Betty Veihman at (630) 469-4325. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for guests.