St. Charles Arts Council presents inaugural "ART at WORK" event
The St. Charles Arts Council is presenting the inaugural "ART at WORK" event on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. Attendees will enjoy music, visual art, film, food and drink.
The venue will be the Suburban Tire Auto Repair Center at 1900 Lincoln Hwy. (Route 38) in St. Charles, which will be converted into an "arts center" for the evening. The event is an open house, which Suburban Tire has underwritten. Everyone is invited to attend. There is no entrance fee, although the arts council and Suburban Tire suggest that visitors donate $10.
Thanks to the generosity of Suburban Tire, a $10 or $20 donation will be matched with a $10 or $20 gift card to Suburban Tire.
The event features Jazz Duo Mike Aleckson and Dan Lopatka, the visual art of Peggy Sue Seehafer, Patti Parish, and Todd Willing, and the film art of Bart Woodstrup.
Steve Leffler explains his interest in the program. "I've wanted to do something like this for years - a little jazz party after work. When my wife (Pam Leffler, director of the St. Charles Public Library) told me that the arts council had an "ART at HOME" program and they wanted to expand that to an "ART at WORK" program, it sounded perfect. We get the jazz and the party, plus this super idea of turning the store into an art gallery. I can't wait to see it. It will be great to do this with the arts council."
Elizabeth Bellaver, president of the St. Charles Arts Council, says, "Steve Leffler of Suburban Tire has been so amazing about this entire concept. The SCAC has already organized half a dozen 'ART at HOME' events, but this is our first 'ART at WORK,' and we're delighted to have found such an enthusiastic sponsor.
"Steve has been supportive of every idea that we've had - hanging art where tires are displayed now, running an original film on the TVs that they use for advertising, turning the car lifts into tables for food and drinks - they've been so generous, and the event is just going to be awesome," Bellaver said.
Peggy Sue Seehafer, one of the professional visual artists whose work will be in the event and a longtime member of the St. Charles Public Art Committee, echoed Bellaver's comments. "I stopped by Suburban Tire recently - and I was very pleasantly surprised at what an interesting building it is. Steve is completely open to the visual art - what's in the show, where we put it, how we display it. It's going to be a treat for us to curate and hang the show, and amazing for everyone to experience the whole event."
Proceeds from the suggested donations will be used to support the St. Charles Arts Council's Charlie's Center for the Arts - Student Artist Event, and the work of the Friends of the St. Charles Public Library
The "ART at WORK" and "ART at HOME" programs are an initiative of the St. Charles Arts Council intended to provide tangible support for artists, giving them opportunities to showcase and be compensated for their talent. These events have feature the work of performing artists, visual artists, and culinary artists. The arts council encourages people to open up their homes or businesses to support the arts, and encourages artists to contact the arts council to learn about showcase opportunities. Contact the council at (630) 443-3794 or info@StCharlesArtsCouncil.org.
The St. Charles Arts Council is a 501(c)(3), registered nonprofit Illinois corporation whose mission is to create an organization that serves and promotes the arts and cultural activities in St. Charles to the mutual benefit of the arts and the community.
About Peggy Sue Seehafer:
Peggy Sue Seehafer is a visual artist specializing in painting, glass and sculpture. She has studied at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, University of Wisconsin, Northern Illinois University. She obtained a degree from College of DuPage in photography, a Master of Photography with PPA, and a degree in art from Elgin Community College. Peggy Sue taught painting at ECC and Waukesha County Community College.
Selected Exhibitions: Leigh Yawkey Woodson Bird Art Exhibition, National Wildlife Art Show in Kansas City, Mo., Wild Wings Gallery in Minneapolis, Minn., Lincoln Park Zoo Exhibition, National Arabian Horse Show, National Wildlife and Western Art Show in Minneapolis, Minn., National Wildlife and Western Art Show in Milwaukee, Wis., Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts in Oconomowoc, Wis., Mount Mary College Show; West Bend Gallery of Fine Arts; and Carroll College Gallery.
Seehafer is an active member of: Fox Valley Wildlife Center - vice president and co-founder; Fox Valley Dog Training Club - board member for 10 years and president for three; Paws with a Cause - lifetime member; Illinois Horse Council - lifetime member; St. Charles Public Art committee - 2001-12; National Carousel Association - editor of publication 3 years; The Kelly Project - president since 1993; and American Carousel Society - preservation committee.
Her artwork has been published in various publications. The Loan Collection books of PPA, Automobile Magazine, Carousel News and Trader - cover, Pom Reader - cover, Arabian Horse World, Painted Ponies, Sunshine Artists -cover, Ed Hoy International - cover, Wildlife Art News.
The Oprah show did a program on the century in photography. Peggy Sue Seehafer was the spirit segment during that show with her photographing a client in her studio.
Learn more about Peggy Sue and her art on her Facebook page at "P.S. Seehafer."
About Patti Parish:
"As a native of Illinois, resident of Aurora and an artist, I cannot remember a time I didn't hold a crayon, pencil, charcoal stick, paintbrush or camera in my hands. After 30 years as a graphic designer in the publishing and printing field, I started Parish Creative Arts in 2011. My education and background is in commercial art, typography, graphic arts, advertising, design and illustration. My earliest memories involve being taken to every museum, architectural wonder, theater, musicals and savoring all the wonders created by mother nature. Those adventures inspired my love of creating artwork at a very young age. As technology evolved, discovery allowed me to create imaginative images merging old-school mediums, photography and current digital methods. My original art takes on fresh twists in style, special effects and personalization with unique results. I have been a featured artist in Aurora at Artwalk, ArtBar @ the Roundhouse, AlleyArt, If These Walls Could Talk Gallery, Women in Art at David L. Pierce Art & History Center, The St. Charles Arts Council neXt Gallery, Gibby's Wine in Geneva and Art on Hale St. in Wheaton. I have been privileged to participate in fundraising for Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry: Pack The Pantry and The Light of The Heart: Aurora Community Art Therapy Project by raffling off my artwork. All accomplished by connecting the creator to the observer."
About Bart Woodstrup:
www.bartwoodstrup.com and www.vodstrup.com
EDUCATION
MFA, 2007, Integrated Electronic Arts - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
MM, 1999, Computer Music and New Media Technology - Northern Illinois University
BFA, 1995, Intermedia Art - Northern Illinois University
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2012-current, Assistant Professor; 2004-05, 1999-2000, 2009-12, Visiting Assistant Professor
College of Visual and Performing Arts, School of Art and Design - Time Arts, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
2008-09 Adjunct Instructor, Integrated Electronic Arts Program, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
2005-06 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Integrated Electronic Arts Program, Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY
2000-05 Faculty, 1997-99 Part - time Faculty, Illinois Institute of Art, Schaumburg, IL
About Todd Willing:
Todd Willing is a Chicago-based contemporary sculpture artist that taps into the primitive, creative aspects of life, making it transcendental + true. Learn more about Todd and his art at www.facebook.com/toddwillingart.
About Mike Aleckson and Dan Lopatka:
Mike Aleckson is a guitarist from St. Charles. He received his bachelors of music degree from Northern Illinois University, where he studied with renowned guitarist Fareed Haque. He has performed in a variety of solo, duo, and group settings in the Chicago area. In addition to performing, Mike is an accomplished educator. He has taught at the Adler Institute of Music in Libertyville and Sounds Like Music in Geneva. He currently teaches lessons in guitar, bass, theory and improvisation from his private studio in St. Charles.
Daniel Lopatka is a bassist from Chicago. He received his bachelor of arts in music degree in 2010 from the University of Illinois at Chicago and went on to receive his master of music degree from Northern Illinois University in 2012. Daniel has performed with many well-known artists including four-time Grammy nominee Stefon Harris, Emmy Award-winning composer Orbert Davis, and Motown legend Martha Reeves. He has also made several appearances on nationally syndicated television shows like Green Screen Adventures and Jerry Springer and has performed the national anthem for professional league games on the NBA and MLB networks.