'Home' exhibit at the West Chicago City Museum blends art and history

The newest exhibit at the West Chicago City Museum focuses on a topic dear to everyone's heart - home.

Earlier this year, a call for art was announced encouraging artists working in both visual and performing arts to collaborate with the museum on an exhibit which would reflect the history of West Chicago through the subject of home.

Co-curators Sara Phalen and Anni Holm scheduled time with interested artists to learn about potential stories and explore the museum's archives and artifacts that supported these stories.

Eleven new works of art that incorporate a piece of West Chicago history have resulted, and each is accompanied by the artist's compelling story.

The artists include James Burrell, Maggie Capettini, Carolyn Hansen, Sara Heymann, Christopher Lucero, Jeff Perkis & Jim Perkis, Buddy Plumlee, Alma Vanessa Rios, Eden Ünlüata, Marlen Valdez, and Rachel Weaver Rivera.

This installation has an interactive component, including maps to locate your current and former homes, or the homes of ancestors. A children's area features a doll house for interactive play.

The museum is at 132 Main St. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, March through November. During the winter, hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays, December through February.

Learn more about the artists and their artworks at www.wegohistory.com.