Artist Demonstrations at neXt gallery at Shelby
St. Charles, Illinois, June 13, 2011 – The neXt gallery at Shelby has organized Artist Demonstrations at the gallery on Friday, June 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 18 from 2 to 5 p.m. Artists participating include Guy Bellaver (sculpture – clay for bronze (lost wax) casting or ceramic casting), Gary Brown (sculpture – found object), Marge Hall (oil painting) and Todd Willing (sculpture – metal).
Bellaver will demonstrate how he combines 21st century tools like the iMac, with ancient tools and knives to sculpt in clay. He will show how he takes images of his live model and translates those into a 360° panoramic display that allows him to more easily stay true to the likeness. Yet, while he uses these digital tools, he actually “sculpts” with tools/knives that have been around for centuries, to craft a likeness that is startlingly animated and true to life.
Brown will demonstrate how he develops the ideas for his 2D and 3D, found object sculptures and wall hangings, and how he uses his background and experience as a graphic artist to arrange those objects in a piece that is detailed, crisp and clean lined.
Hall is a nationally recognized artist who has discovered her own color vocabulary based on a pallet that combines elements of strong light with drama and photo-like realism. When she paints white flowers, she is able to exaggerate the color subtleties as they shift in the shadows and areas of reflected light. She uses these colors and light to capture the transparency of Petunias, the velvet-like softness of Gladiolas, or the feel and texture of the veins and wrinkles of Hollyhocks.
Willing is a welder turned sculptor who uses the production techniques from his background and combines them with the concepts in his imagination.
The demonstration on Friday, June 17th is part of the FRIDAYS@FIVE, a casual reception open to the public, featuring light refreshments, music, and this weekend – this special artist demonstration program. A great way to kick off your weekend with a little culture! Each FRIDAYS@FIVE is followed by food & drink specials at PRASINO for gallery goers. (Pick up your free voucher at the gallery.)
The gallery address is Suite 100, 210 South Fifth Street, in the Shelby Building. The gallery web site is www.nextgallerystcharles.org, and the phone number is 630.429.0973. The SCAC and the neXt gallery committee would like to extend their thanks to Batavia Enterprises, the owners of the Shelby Building (and Batavia Enterprises' Austin Dempsey) who are partnering in this location with the arts council. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
During the month that neXt gallery at Shelby is open, there will be events such as these artist demonstrations, as well as panel discussions, music, and the Fridays@Five receptions, a fun cross promotional program with Prasino in St. Charles. From the Memorial Day weekend through the end of June there will be an incredible amount of arts programming in St. Charles – and the SCAC encourages residents and visitors to come to the city to enjoy all that is planned. Check out the neXt gallery web site for a Calendar of ARTS Events in St. Charles.
The neXt gallery is a “Pop Up” gallery, which, if you haven't heard of the idea before, is typically an empty storefront/office building that is transformed into a temporary art gallery for a short period of time. The neXt gallery program is an initiative of the St. Charles Arts Council designed to create energy, excitement, and opportunities for artists – as pop up galleries have done in Chicago's Loop, Evanston, and cities around the world – and to provide opportunities for artists to showcase and be compensated for their talent.
The neXt gallery program is a collaboration that promotes local/regional artists, the SCAC, and the St. Charles business community. The first pop up opened in the Shelby Building on May 27th and will run through June 26th. The program is called neXt gallery, because you never know where it will pop up next!
The Arts Council encourages building owners, volunteers, art supporters, and art collectors to get involved in this program to support the arts and St. Charles, and encourages artists to contact the SCAC to learn about neXt gallery opportunities. Contact the council at 630.443.3794 or StCharlesArtsCouncil@gmail.com.
The St. Charles Arts Council is a registered not-for-profit Illinois corporation whose mission is to create an organization that serves and promotes the arts and cultural activities in St. Charles, to the mutual benefit of the arts and the community.
About the St. Charles Arts Council:
The SCAC will serve all those individuals (professionals, amateurs, and students) who produce tangible, consumable works of the imagination and all organizations, businesses, and groups that include and represent those people. This would be arts and cultural activities in their broadest sense, including graphic, plastic, and decorative arts, architecture, crafts, literature and poetry, music, theater, and dance. The primary long-range goal is the transformation of St. Charles into an arts community/an arts magnet/a nationally-known arts market. Ultimately we foresee a municipal arts center, more working artists and opportunities in arts education, many privately-owned galleries, performance venues, and related arts businesses, and a downtown architecture and streetscape conducive to both the aesthetics and business of art.
About Batavia Enterprises:
Batavia Enterprises has been in business since 1959, serving customers throughout the Fox Valley. With properties in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, West Chicago, Elburn, Rockford and Sugar Grove, we offer new and historical buildings for lease in all five categories of the rental market: residential, retail, office, warehousing and manufacturing.
Batavia Enterprises offers development sites throughout the Valley along Kirk Road, Route 38, Route 47, Main Street in Batavia and Randall Road. The company's Land Acquisition Department has amassed several large and mid-size industrial, commercial and residential sites available for development in the 21st century.
Our goal is to serve our customers by providing them with the best business location within the Fox Valley, enabling them to generate the highest return for their efforts. We wish to compete for the privilege of filling your real estate needs.
http://www.bataviaenterprises.com
About prasino:
prasino is the Greek word meaning “green.” We serve clean food in modern, environmentally conscious settings.
Located west of the city in LaGrange and St. Charles, IL, prasino also debuts in Chicago's Bucktown/Wicker Park in Spring 2011.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner selections celebrate artisanal flavors with a nod to local growers. Grilled and braised meats, ocean-friendly fare & organic produce are menu features.
Global-influenced beer, wine & spirits are offered and “fresco at prasino” - organic espresso-juice-smoothie bars located within each cafe - offer delicious and healthy “on-the-go” tastes.
prasino's committment to sustainability is incorporated in each cafe's eco-chic design. Tabletops and floors incorporate reclaimed wood and light fixtures are crafted from recycled wine bottles and corrugated cardboard boxes. Food is prepared in kitchens designed to reduce energy and water use, to incorporate recycling, and eco-friendly cleaning products.
prasino is a reflection of its founders, the Maglaris family. The third-generation restauranteurs are committed to supporting local growers, artisanal food producers, and organic agriculture. Eat Green, Live Well.
http://www.prasino.com
About the City of St. Charles:
St. Charles, Illinois, located in both DuPage and Kane County, is 35 miles west of downtown Chicago. Over 2,100 businesses employ over 34,200 people, consisting of a balanced mix of retailers, restaurants, and manufacturing facilities. The City of St. Charles was recently named one of the “150 Great Places in Illinois” for the combined architectural work of the City Municipal Center, the Main Street Bridge, and the historic Hotel Baker.
The City's recently completed 2014 Strategic Plan includes the following Action Plan: Market and promote St. Charles as a friendly, appealing destination, characterized by activities, events, arts, and culture. Capitalize on artistic and cultural resources by supporting local talent and lively venues and activities. Encourage collective civic endeavors to broaden the variety of attractions and events.