'Celebrating Women' exhibit on display at Fine Line's Kavanagh Gallery
The Kavanagh Gallery at Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles has brought art from over 50 artists together in an exhibition called "Celebrating Women."
Local artist Laura Wasilowski creates pictorial art quilts. Wasilowski's piece "Jane Addams: A Most Dangerous Woman" highlights the peace activist and leader of the settlement house movement in America, Jane Addams. Addams, born in Cedarville, Illinois, was a social reformer, suffragette, feminist, pacifist, and Nobel Peace Prize winner. J. Edgar Hoover, the founding director of the FBI, called her "The Most Dangerous Woman in America," hence the title of the piece.
Another artist who has chosen to celebrate a well-known female figure is Mary Ellen Kelly from Tennessee. Kelly's piece "Frieda is Gold" is a homage to Mexican artist Frieda Kahlo. Using layers of vintage book pages (1860-1960) collaged on canvas and finished with acrylic and gold paints, pencil and charcoal; the piece celebrates an extraordinary female artist.
Not all the art on show reflects famous or well-known females.
Illinois artist Cynthia Boudreau's piece "Let's Talk" is a bench that features a one-of-a-kind felted top of female faces in silhouette. Boudreau created the piece with the thought that if all self-identified women would sit and have a sincere conversation about life, they may find common ground.
Therese Misner, from Oregon, paints in an illustrative style. Her image "Living Artfully" depicts a graceful, smiling woman in red sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. The image is filled with happiness. Misner creates works with layers of melted and gestural flowing lines.
Joan Bredendick from Illinois uses multilayers of pigment to build color. Her image "Blue Hound" depicts a female figure taking care of an animal. This large piece is saturated with color and vibrancy.
The "Celebrating Women" exhibit is open to the public Monday to Saturday through March 24. There is never an admission fee to see the art displayed at the Kavanagh Gallery.
The Fine Line Creative Arts Center is located at 37W570 Bolcum Road, just west of Randall Road in St. Charles. For information, visit www.fineline.org or call (630) 584-9443.