Alumni return for celebration at West Chicago’s Gallery 200
Homecoming is traditionally a fall rite of passage that finds alumni rekindling old friendships and reminiscing about days gone by.
In keeping with that tradition, Gallery 200, 200 Main St., West Chicago, has invited former members to reunite as the featured artists during Artoberfest, a monthlong schedule of cultural opportunities for residents and visitors in the downtown historic district.
Gallery 200 is a cultural initiative supported by the city of West Chicago and the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission and was established in 2005. Participating in this year’s Artoberfest are several of the founding members of the artists’ cooperative along with one former member of the Cultural Arts Commission:
Ÿ Uwe Gsedl, photography;
Ÿ Mary Nancy Hannah, oil pastel and watercolor paintings;
Ÿ Barbara Holme, oil pastel;
Ÿ Marianne King, watercolor paintings;
Ÿ Judith Laczo, soft pastels;
Ÿ Kristine Marie Miller, monotype;
Ÿ Sylvia Mosier, acrylic paintings;
Ÿ Jeannette Marie Rehmel, oil pastel and watercolor paintings;
Ÿ Ken Tinnes, watercolor paintings;
Ÿ Nancy Voss, oil paintings; and
Ÿ Phil Weibler, photography.
A free opening reception is from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the gallery and will include light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the artists. Member artist and musician Richard Byrne will perform.
In addition to two- and three-dimensional art, performing arts also are thriving at Gallery 200 with Local Music Night and Gallery Theater.
A renovation to the lower level of the gallery building in 2010 opened space for entertainment as well as classroom and workshop areas. Gallery 200/STUDIO is accessed from the rear of the building, at 203 Turner Court, and is handicap accessible.
Local Music Night debuted in October 2009 and continues to build momentum with capacity crowds and a growing list of local and regional artists performing live music in a variety of genres. Laurie Schaefer, an original Local Music Night performer, takes the stage from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, along with Beth Carlson and Dustin and Colleen Huckstep.
Gallery Theater debuted in the fall of 2010 and continues a full season of performances during Artoberfest with “Test of Wills,” an interactive mystery in which the audience decides the guilty party. Appropriately planned for the month of Halloween, the cast will play out scenes with twists and turns and the audience may even have an opportunity to interrogate the actors.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29. Reservations may be made via email at gallerytheater@gmail.com or by calling (630) 639-0594.
For more information or to view a full schedule of events for Artoberfest, visit www.gallery200.org or call the gallery at (630) 293-9550.