Charlie's Center for the Arts event to featured art galleries, video presentation
Two new neXt galleries are popping up again - this time at the Charlie's Center for the Arts Event.
And, in keeping with the event objective of presenting "All of the Arts, All Over Town," the latest in the neXt series of pop-up art galleries.
"What's Black + White + Re[a]d All Over " plus "More, But Different …" will be joined by the Yellow House Artists at A Small Gem of a Gallery at 11 E. Main St., St. Charles.
In addition to these "Three Galleries in One," neXt and Charlie's will be presenting a video installation project, "Under Saraswati River," by artist and filmmaker Bart Woodstrup, which will be showing under the Fox River bridge pavilion on the southeast corner of the Route 64 bridge.
Heather Weber, guest juror and curator of the neXt galleries, said "I was delighted to be asked to be a juror for the neXt gallery program. I worked in the Charlie's Student Artist Event Gallery this past February, and thought it was an excellent gallery. I had fun jurying the work, and am looking forward to curating the gallery."
She is the curator of the Northeastern Illinois University Art Gallery and professor of art history at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove.
Join the artist reception during the Charlie's Event from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at 11 E. Main St. (next to Smitty's on the Corner). The gallery is part of the Charlie's Center for the Arts Events. Many of the artists in the galleries will be there for this wine and cheese reception. Bart Woodstrup will be showing his beautiful "Under Saraswati River" multimedia presentation under the dome of the Fox River bridge pavilion.
The St. Charles Arts Council would like to extend a huge thank you to BMO/Harris for the use of their building for the gallery.
The neXt galleries at Charlie's feature 2D and 3-D visual art, including graphic art, painting, sculpture, mixed media, and photography. The Yellow House Artists are a group of visual artists who work in oil pastel.
Artists in the neXt galleries at Charlie's are: Whitney Bandel, DeKalb; Catie Barron, Guy J. Bellaver, Chaqeeta Gabel, Gabriela Guganovic, Anne Ressman-Zabinski, and Linda Wininger, all of St. Charles; Dana Marie Brown, Tom Hansen, and Berret Uchiek, all of Geneva; Carole A. Burval, Barrington; Sara Peak Convery and Linda Roxe, both of Chicago; John Fu, Palatine; Amy Furio, West Chicago; Elizabeth Higdon, Grayslake; William McGrath and Felicia Raschke, both of Batavia; Patti Parish, Aurora; Sherry Pritz, Rockford; Darren Robinson, Wheaton; Julie Kolze Sorensen, Sycamore; James E. Stephens and Nanette B. Stephens, both of South Elgin; John Sternickle, Crest Hill; Michael T. Wallace, Calumet City; and Bart Woodstrup, Sycamore.
The Yellow House Artists are: Jo Cawthra, Rupali Kumbhani, and Sandy Povall Smith, all of St. Charles;
Donna Ostrye and Fran Stilwagner, both of Geneva; Deann Alleman, Sugar Grove; Laverne Bohlin, Aurora; Carole Kazwick, Downers Grove; Carol Kincaid, Wheaton; Maureen McKee, Sally Sharp, and Roberta Sieber, all of Naperville; Irene Peterson, Schaumburg; and Anne Marie Piemonte, Hinsdale.
All three galleries will be open Friday, Sept. 5 through Sunday, Sept. 28.
"Under Saraswati River" will be shown exclusively on Sept. 12-13. More information, including days and times and artist information, may be found on the neXt gallery website, neXtgalleryStCharles.org. More information about the Charlie's Event may be found at StCharlesArtsCouncil.org.
Elizabeth Bellaver, president of the St. Charles Arts Council, says, "We're always so pleased with the response we get from local, regional and national visual artists for our art shows and neXt galleries. The 'What's Black + White + Re[a]d All Over' gallery is going to be fun (in keeping with the theme), but it also includes some really gorgeous pieces and the work submitted for the 'More, But Different …' gallery ranges from fabulous sculptural masks to a 4- by 5-foot painting that's an homage to Velasquez with all of that artist's rich detail.
"We're also very pleased to be joined in this gallery by the Yellow House Artists and their beautiful oil pastel work," Bellaver continued. "And I think the video project that Bart Woodstrup is doing is just truly awesome - it's going to be a beautiful way to make the Fox River part of the event.
"And I have to be sure to include a heartfelt thank you to BMO/Harris for allowing us to use their building for these galleries. And for being so helpful about the entire process."
About the Charlie's Event, she goes on, "Really, the entire Charlie's Event is so exciting. The support that we've gotten from our civic and arts partners has been awesome. There are just so many things to see and experience during the Event weekend. We can't wait to open the city's 'arts doors' to our community and beyond - anyone who would like to experience an entire weekend of arts programming, combined with beautiful late summer weather, good food, and the ambience of a city with so much cool stuff going on."
The Fine Line Creative Arts Center, Cedar Avenue Studios, Cultural Connection, Water Street Studios PrintLab, All Things Art Studios, and the Norris Center will be presenting art shows and demonstrations.
The St. Charles Park District offers its "Sculpture in the Park" at Mount St. Mary, an outdoor photography workshop, and the gallery at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center. The St. Charles Public Library is featuring a show in its mezzanine gallery.
And a very special event this year, the Fine Line has added a 35th anniversary special "Anything But Dessert" - a social and concert featuring jazz violinist Randy Sabien - to their normally scheduled gallery program, a collage show entitled "Layers." In addition, Cedar Avenue Studios opens its inaugural "September Skylight" Gallery Show.
For more information about this fantastic weekend of art, check out the St. Charles Arts Council's website (Events Page) or call (630) 443-3794 or the neXt gallery at (630) 429-0973. Or email to info@StCharlesArtsCouncil.org.