Elmhurst Artists Guild Summer Show

The Summer Members Show features original contemporary artwork by more than fifty local artists. Their breadth of styles and medium encompasses dramatically different artworks including watercolor, ceramics, oil, acrylic, digital, collage, photographic and sculptural works involving landscapes, portraits, abstract and other styles. Most artworks are available for purchase.

Villa Park artist, Ben Calvert III, an accomplished woodcut printmaker, will exhibit “All Day Get Away,” a large 24″ by 34″ woodcut relief print depicting a motorcycle, which he created with oil-based ink on Kozuke paper. Calvert, who teaches classes on printmaking, is exacting not only about his wood carving, but also about paper upon which the print is made. One of his prints was included in the recent Drake University Anderson Gallery juried “Paper is Part of the Picture” exhibit showcasing the importance of different papers to the finished work on paper.

Randal Stringer, an abstract painter from Glen Ellyn, will show “Judas Is My Friend,” a dramatic small painting, just one-foot square, created with acrylic, graphite, India ink and gold foil. This is a painting one will want to spend some time with, contemplating the meaning. The gold-headed figure with the crucifix earring appears stoically calm in the clutches of the claw-like fingers capable of going from friendly caress to choke.

Elmhurst artist, Wes Baker, has stretched out from his usual abstract genre into a moving portrait of the Pope, influenced by Pope John Paul II, titled “Grant Me Wisdom.” Baker, who is not Catholic, explained, “In a time when our world is so in need of inspirational leadership, I wanted to paint a person who did aspire to that role. And I wanted to depict how difficult it is to be a true leader, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, humbly praying for wisdom to make good, ethical, compassionate decisions.”

Cassie Swierenga, EAG President, pointed out, “Several of the EAG members exhibiting in the Members Show, including Calvert, Stringer and Baker, also volunteer their time to further the services of the EAG and also the Elmhurst Art Museum. An added bonus of purchasing one of the affordably priced artworks from the Members Show is that purchases provide three-way support – to the artists, the Guild and the Elmhurst Art Museum.”

The EAG gallery is not-for-profit, operated by the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild. It features contemporary artworks in a variety of styles and media. In addition to four member shows each year, the guild hosts exhibitions of individual member’s artwork and invitational shows for significant local artists. Exhibits are partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council.