Local artist’s legacy lives on: Water Street Studios hosts benefit exhibit

When it was learned that an entire collection of works by the late artist and educator Edward Dlugopolski needed to find a new home, volunteers stepped up to assist with the task.

In a discussion with Ed’s wife, Joyce McFarland Dlugopolski, it was suggested that Water Street Studios would be a good fit to care for the art from Ed’s Batavia home studio, and arrange a show and sale of the nearly 300 pieces.

Ed and Joyce were longtime patrons of the arts, including the Elgin Symphony and the Lyric Opera. It was a natural outcome to have his artwork benefit Water Street Studios, a nonprofit community art center that offers studio space, exhibitions and classes at 160 S. Water St. in Batavia.

Dlugopolski grew up the son of Polish immigrants in Chicago. He won a scholarship to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After serving the U.S. Army in Korea, he got his degree at the University of Chicago. For 30 years, he headed the art department at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn.

In 2007, Ed was selected to be the poster artist for Batavia’s Art In Your Eye festival. It was then that organizers visited his studio and saw firsthand his vast collection of art, most of it his own, but also the work of artist friends. It was a real thrill to look through his work and select a piece for the poster.

They were so intrigued by his many self-portraits that a second piece of art was selected for purchase for the Art in Your Eye collection. His artwork was not only featured on the annual poster, but both pieces adorned festival T-shirts and canvas bags. Organizers of Art in Your Eye continued to enjoy the friendship developed with Ed and Joyce long after the Batavia festival ended a few years later.

These same festival organizers and volunteers, some who went on to be involved with Water Street Studios, were honored to help move, photograph and catalog the artwork from Ed’s studio. He worked mainly in acrylic and charcoal. His works, mostly framed, range in size from 11-inches-by-11 inches to very large acrylic works measuring as large as 60-inches-by-41 inches.

Besides the self-portraits, there are colorful abstracts, portraits and a vast collection of life drawings. Of special interest is his homage to his Art Institute teacher and mentor Boris Anisfeld, a Russian American painter and theater designer. Ed maintained a friendship and art kinship with him for decades.

The entire donated collection of Dlugopolski’s work will be shown and available for purchase starting in January, with proceeds to benefit Water Street Studios.

In January, Water Street Studios’ main gallery will be closed due to scheduled maintenance; however, they are hosting a special Second Friday exhibition. It is the grand opening of “Ed's Studio: A Celebration of the Life and Work of Ed Dlugopolski.” Thanks to friends at Batavia Enterprises Inc., Water Street Studios will be hosting a nearby satellite gallery to showcase the artwork of Dlugopolski, who lived in Batavia for nearly 40 years.

All purchases will benefit Water Street Studios, whose mission is to make art accessible in the Fox Valley area. This satellite studio will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 11-12, at 139 First St. (just around the corner from Water Street Studios). The gallery reception will be on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Complimentary beverages and snacks will be served.

All sales are final. For more information, visit www.waterstreetstudios.org/eds-studio.