 | Spring Benefit 2008 at the Evanston Art Center
Annual Evening Gala & Live Auction
Saturday, May 17, 2008
One hundred forty-four artists from the Chicago area contributed artwork to Evanston Art Center’s 2008 Spring Benefit Art Auction. Proceeds benefited the Center’s school, exhibition, and outreach programs. The event netted the largest income in history of this 21 year event, with over $40,000 in art sales and donations. The art-loving public had an opportunity to view and bid on paintings, drawings, photographs, ceramics, sculpture, prints and other artworks by leading Chicago area artists including Vera Klement, Melissa Ann Pinney, Paul Sierra, Buzz Spector, Terry Evans, Chuck Walker, Dennis Kowalski, Gladys Nilsson, Barbara Crane, Judith Geichman, Jane Fulton Alt, Michiko Itatani, Cheonae Kim, Shona Macdonald, James Mesplé, Corey Postiglione, Scott Wolniak, Barbara Cooper, Gary Justis, and Sandra Perlow. Many Chicago galleries donated artwork to the event, including Jean Albano Gallery, Alfedena Gallery, Corbett vs. Dempsey Gallery, Catherine Edelman Gallery, Ann Nathan Gallery, Nicole Gallery, Perimeter Gallery, and Primitive Gallery. John Brunetti and Kathy Kirka donated from their personal collection. The preview exhibition and advance bidding began April 20 and continued until the live auction on the night of Saturday, May 17.
The live auction and closing night party began at 7:00 PM with wine and refreshments. David Kaufman conducted the live auction of 14 works, with Chicago art advocate Paul Klein assisting. David Kaufman, a talented guitarist, also entertained guests with his musical performance. Tickets were $100 per person for the closing night event. The Evanston Art Center’s Board of Trustees presented the Spring Benefit Art Auction. Board of Trustee member, George Accattato, of Evanston, IL, was the Benefit Chair. Board of Trustee members, Greg DeStefano, of Evanston, IL and Susan Curry, of Winnetka both underwrote portions of the Benefit. Artwork framing was donated by: Good’s of Evanston, The Frame Warehouse, Evanston, and The Great Frame Up, Evanston. Lighting was donated by John Millen Ace Hardware, Wilmette. The Board of Trustees donated all the food for the event.
View 2008 Auction Artwork! Proceeds from the auction benefit the Art Center’s exhibition, education, and youth outreach programs.
|
|
 | "The Nereid Beckon"
Sculpture on the Grounds
June 2008 - May 2009
Opening Reception: June 1, 2:30 - 4pm
Matt Dehaemer’s installation “The Nereid Beckon” floats on the lawn of the Evanston Art Center metaphorically transporting the viewer toward the historic Gross Point Lighthouse. The site-specific installation of five, 16 foot ship-like bottles is composed of approximately 6,000 small, clear plastic bottles. Thousands of people have written messages attesting to their attachment, dependence, fear of or reverence for Lake Michigan.
During the day viewers are drawn to the messages, clearly visible through the individual bottles. Moving from one to the next can be mesmerizing. The cumulative effect is the gathering of expressions from a diverse community of people who have personal sentiments or little known facts to say about the Great Lake that they share...Lake Michigan.
At night. a different sight emerges, as the fleet of bottles, lit from within, becomes almost a single presence appearing to drift toward the lighthouse.
Messages include drawings from the children at Sunny Days Child Care and written memories from senior citizens at the Levy Center and Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, both visual and written messages from children of District 65 Schools: Walker, Orrington, Lincolnwood, Willard, Dawes, Lincoln, Washington elementary schools and Nichols, Chute, Oakton & Haven middle schools. Messages also come from students & teachers at the Music Institute of Chicago, Roycemore School, Baker Demonstration School, Chiaravalle Montessori School, Dewey School Ecology Club and Girl Scout Troops 745 & 746. In addition, visitors to the Evanston Ecology Center and the YWCA, residents of the Presbyterian Homes, the Mather Pavillion, Mather Homes and 3 Crowns, members of the Osher Life Long Learning Institute groups, Northwestern University, Chris Green’s poetry writing class at Loyola University, Family Focus, Young Evanston Artists, Evanston Youth Job Center, Evanston Library Teen Center, Northeast Association, Evanston Women’s Club, Jr. League of Evanston & the North Shore, Northwestern Settlement House, Open Studio, Evanston Arts Council/Public Arts Council, City of Evanston: Mayor Morton, Council and Staff, Arts & Business Council, NEXT Theater and Evanston Art Center volunteers, staff and students, Wilmette Park District Kindergarten, The Garden Club of Evanston, Ramona School Garden Club, Evanston Current Events Club, Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club, Rotary International and several book clubs have participated. First Bank & Trust of Evanston, Art + Science Salon, Sara Gutheridge, Gerry Macsai, Sandy Brown, realtor, The Homestead Hotel, 800 Condominium Association and The Paper Source solicited messages from their customers and staff. Many unidentified individuals are also part of the art.
This project could not have been realized without the generosity of the City of Evanston’s Community Public Art Program, Community Art Fund, the Illinois Arts Council, Beth & David Hart, Allan Drebin and the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation and the hard work of committee members Beth Hart, Geraldine Macsai, Coni Lyman, Jane Chapman, Katherine Hart, Bill Lampkin, Bruce Rogers, Barbara Blades and EAC staff Paula Danoff, Larry Boswelll, Jyl Bonaguro, Judy Fenton, Bonnie Katz, and Alan Leder, Executive Director.
A special thank you to:
The Homestead Hotel & Quince Restaurant for the gift of hospitality
The Music Institute of Chicago & Aaron Kaplan, cello, Jay Hsu, violin and Jeff Spenner, trumpet for performing Handel’s Water Music
Professor Chris Green of Loyola University for the poetry reading of his students’ writings for “The Nereid Beckon”
|
|
 | 2008 Winter Arts + Crafts Expo
November 21 - December 13, 2008
The Evanston Art Center’s eighth annual juried show represents the best of our local artisans with one-of-a-kind gifts of fine art and craft. Based on enthusiastic community support, our eighth year will run for 21 days, and represent approximately 100 artists. The Art Center has served the North Shore and Chicago metropolitan areas for over 75 years, with exhibitions of contemporary art, hundreds of classes and workshops and extensive outreach programs.
Application Process
Each applicant must submit a CD containing 3-4 200 dpi JPEG IMAGES (minimum 5”x6”/1000 x 1200 pixels maximum 10”x10”/2000 x 2000 pixels) with paper photographic back drops. Please consult our submission guidelines http://www.evanstonartcenter.org/artist_guidelines/artistguidelines.htm for any questions. All materials submitted must be labeled with your name and medium. A $25 non-refundable entry fee must accompany each application. Checks should be made out to the Evanston Art Center. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, September 22, 2008. Click here to download an application pdf of Winter Expo 2008 Incomplete applications will be returned unviewed. Your CD and any extra materials will not be returned.
Mail Application to:
Winter Arts + Crafts Expo
Evanston Art Center
2603 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60201
Applications must be postmarked by: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
|
|
|