Blue Moon Gallery kicks off summer with new art exhibits and a Pop-Up Show June 22
Blue Moon Gallery is kicking off the summer season with an opening reception for emerging featured artist Kay Smith of Waukegan, pop-up embroidery artist Laura O'Connor of Grayslake, the gallery's five 2024 Collective Artists, and a continuation of “Local Papers,” a group show of three local artists who create art on or with paper.
The Opening Reception is from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, June 22, and will be hosted at the gallery located at 18620 Belvidere Road in Grayslake. The reception is free and open to the public. Wine will be served and free parking is available.
Kay Smith has always painted “in her mind” and eventually she ventured out to put her visual expressions directly onto canvases. Her artwork explores vivid color combinations, nonobjective imagery and nature to express her feelings and thoughts on a variety of subjects. The results reflect color-saturated compositions and sensory-loaded textures and her work is completely open to interpretation by the viewer.
In addition to being an artist, Smith is also an actress, author, comedian, and poet.
“We are thrilled to be sharing Kay's vibrant visual expression with our community. Everyone is welcome to come to the reception to meet Kay and experience her dramatic paintings,” gallery director Kendra Kett said.
Smith is showing a collection of 12 acrylic paintings. Her exhibition is on view through July 14. The gallery is open from 1-4 p.m. weekends.
Laura O'Connor will be presenting a mixed media pop-up show “on the bricks” at the Blue Moon during the Opening Reception; the pop-up show is outdoors from 6-9 p.m., weather permitting, one-night-only, and will feature O'Connor's award-winning embroidery, cross stitch and mixed media collages incorporating vintage photographs, ephemera and sewing notions.
“Needle and thread are always in my hands,” O'Connor said. “When using them I join a long and strong tradition of women who have turned needlecraft into a vehicle for political expression and commentary on society. I work primarily in the needlecrafts of embroidery and cross-stitch. I like the balance that they can provide. These particular needlecrafts have a long history but they also have the ability to be flexible and to change to fit modern times.”
The gallery's five collective artists — Juli Janovicz of Kenosha, Kendra Kett of Gurnee, John Kirkpatrick of Libertyville, and Ginny Krueger and Matthew Padilla, both of Grayslake — show their artwork year-round at the Blue Moon and will have new work to share at the June 22 Opening Reception, including watercolor floral paintings, figurative acrylic and oil paintings, encaustic paintings and colored pencil drawings.
“Local Papers” continues through July 14 and features a unique and interesting presentation of artwork made on or created with paper by three award-winning artists: Angela Williams Duea of Chicago, and Phil Schorn and Melissa Rasor, both of Grayslake.
“Schorn's outstandingly realistic color pencil drawings of local flora and birds, Duea's exquisite and delicate geometric mixed media collages, and Rasor's highly distinctive unusual collages made from rolled-up pages from recycled magazines make this show engaging and full of wonder and awe. It's a must-see show full of intriguing and absolutely lovely art to experience,” Kett said.
At the June 22 reception guests can also enjoy the live music of guitarist Clark Hardin of Bartlett. Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs and snacks to sit and stay for a while to enjoy the art, artists, and music at the gallery.
“Our patrons share with us that it feels like a super fun mini-museum at the Blue Moon,” said Keaton Nonnemacher, assistant director at the Blue Moon. “We show outstanding professionally created fine art in a friendly social setting where there is a deep knowledge about art as well as a feeling of inclusion and belonging. Everyone is welcome to join us, make new friends, and experience the joy and positivity of colors, shapes, lines, and forms — which is what the beauty of art is all about.”
For more information about the Blue Moon Gallery, their hours of operation, and their upcoming events and opening receptions, visit thebluemoongallery.com.