Pics from "Welcome Home" at OpenWall in Chicago

An Exhibit of artwork for and by Veterans
The show runs from 9/11/2014 until 11/30/2014
The Opening is October 19th from 12:30-3:00
Participating Artists:
@Kevin Barszcz, @Jasmine Clark, Stuart Halll, Jeanine Hill-Soldner, Patrick D Kerrigan, @Dennis Paterka , Patrick Putze, Piotr Wolodkowicz
co-curated by Tam Dillman, Thomas Gianni and Bill Moran

I was so excited when Patricia Larkin Green contacted me with a request to exhibit "Portraits of American Veterans Project" in the show "Welcome Home"  at the lovely OpenWall gallery located in the North Lincoln Avenue office of Alderman Amya Pawar, (the 47th Ward).  The reception was well attended and the food was sensational. Everyone I met was so kind and supportive of art in the community.  I hope to see this kind of support for artists spread through out the Chicago area.
 I am especially honored that I am showing my work with several veterans from the Chicago area.  Now that I have finally posted a couple photos from the reception I will follow-up with a review when I have a chance.

My Painting at Robert Morris University Gallery in Chicago

This is me with my oil painting "Dissipation" on exhibit in the Chicago Women's Caucus for Art Nationally Juried Exhibit "Water a Universal Human Right or Commodity" at Robert Morris University on State Street in Chicago.

 Statement for the show:

“Dissipation”

Water is vital for the survival of all life on earth.  My work for this show reflects upon the extensive deserts and arid lands in many parts of the earth.   Rain dissipates before reaching the parched and drought stricken lands on earth.  Humans live on the edge of life while struggling to survive in regions where safe and available drinking water is scarce.  The water bottles are a universal symbol for clean drinking water. 

Oil on heavy duty canvas mounted on 1 1/2' heavy duty stretcher bars measuring 30'h x 20' w.  Photos, water bottles and conceptual ideas where utilized in production.

I've been creating a lot of work about water in the past few years.  I grew up surrounded by water, competitive swimming, scuba diving, water skiing, wind surfing, fishing, boating, living near the beach and always drawn to the water. 

Another Exhibit Another Invite

My five mixed media boxes titled "Resonance" will be on exhibit in the show "Ellipse" at the Old Courthouse Art Center in Woodstock.

Here's a detail view.  

“Ellipse” Statement:

“Resonance”

These mixed media boxes titled “Resonance” represent my ongoing interest in the intersections of art and science.  In the field of science the magnetic field forms a “resonance ellipse” where the classical image projection by lenses or resonant cavities is familiar in the blending of light in the atmosphere to form mirages, and the focusing of sound.  The objects in my boxes began as separate parts, but when I started arranging the shapes and considered the dynamic relationships between the marbles and broken glass ball I found the trajectory of ellipses could be contained within the closed box form. Creating these whimsical pieces are a small part of my full time art practice.

"Borderless" Exhibit at the Addison Center for the Arts

This painting is from a photo I took on a very hot day a few summers ago at Crown Fountain in Chicago.  Measuring 20"x 20" in oil on canvas I came up with a  title that is somewhat narrative "Waiting".  I had fun with the figure in the foreground reflected in the water while standing in front of the glass brick wall.

The title of this 20" x 20" oil on canvas painting is "Summer Dance".  I had fun painting the figures dancing and splashing in the water while the figure in the back welcomes the deluge of water from Crown Fountain in Chicago.

These two painting are on exhibit at the Addison Center for the Arts through the month of October in the Chicago Women's Caucus for Art exhibit titled "Borderless".  This beautiful exhibit features the art by 18 members of the CWCA and celebrates the artists of Chicago for Chicago Artists Month.
The artists reception will be held on Sunday October 12 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 

New Exhibit of Eight PAVP portraits at OpenWall in Chicago

Plenty of Exhibits Coming up this Fall

2014 Summer/ Fall Exhibits

August 7– September 28

“WCA 30th Anniversary Exhibit”

Old Courthouse Art Center, on the Square

101 N. Johnson St., Woodstock, IL

Artist Reception: Saturday August 23, 7-9 p.m.

October 1– 31

“Borderless” Chicago Women’s Caucus for Art

Addison Center for the Arts

213 N. Lombard Rd., Addison, IL

Artist Reception: Saturday Oct. 12, 2-4 p.m.

September 11- November 30
"Welcome Home" OpenWall
4243 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL

Artist Reception: Sunday, Oct. 19, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00  p.m.

October 2- November 1

Ellipse Exhibition

Old Courthouse Art Center, on the Square

101 N. Johnson St., Woodstock, IL

Artist Reception: Saturday October 19, 7-9 p.m.

November

Algonquin Area Public Library

“Portraits of American Veterans Project”

More information to follow.

April 2015

Solo Show

Addison Center for the Arts

Addison, IL

More information to follow

New Painting Completes "Memories of an Era"

My studio sketchbook showing the original (photo copy enlarged from a 3"x3" photo) and the design sketch on the right.

Again my studio sketchbook and the drawing painted in with watercolor for study of value and color harmony.

Here's the almost complete 6' x 4' oil on canvas painting.

 

 

 

Now the painting has reached the final stages of completion. 

I haven't yet settled on title for this new piece that I've been working on all summer.  I consider it the final painting in the extensive "Memories of an Era" body of work.  I thought I had completed the series, but because as with many narratives, there is always more to say, and thus more to paint.  Well, the last of the paintings was completed in 2006, I thought.
 I decided to revisit my family history and stories from my childhood as I began researching family photos for the final portrait for "Portraits of American Veterans Project" and realized there was one more image, one more thing I wanted to say about "Memories", and that is the painting above.  My concept is that it will connect it to PAVP at a profoundly meaningful level.
The final painting for PAVP will be of my Dad.  The last photos taken of him were in 1990-91 so I have to search for the best "recent" photo and then include the many images of him at age 15 at Paris Island in Marine Corps boot camp, at age 17 after his service in WWII, at age 21 after his service in Korea at age 35 while in-country Vietnam and finally at his retirement at age 45 after 30 years in the Marine Corps.  Semper fi Dad, I'll do you proud when I finally complete this project of a lifetime. 
The hardest things we do in life sometimes take the longest.

Opening Reception and Program at Addison Library

Jeanine and Patrick with his portrait.  Read more about the exhibit and opening reception in this
 Daily Herald Article.

Annette Leiber and Jeanine.

Patrick viewing his portrait.

Jeanine speaking to the audience at the Addison Library. 

Patrick and Patricia Tanner listening to my presentation at the Addison Library.  The "Portraits of American Veterans Project" is on exhibit in the background.

Patrick Tanner telling his stories from service during the Korean War.  His portrait can be seen on the slide behind him.