Illinois Artisans Shop a Resource for Holiday Shoppers
December 1, 2005
Chicago - Anyone for an arts holiday shopping spree in Chicago? Discover unique gift items at the Illinois Artisans Shop December Art Spree in the atrium of the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph Street, December 7, 8, & 9, 2005, 10:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, select Illinois Artisans Program members will display and sell unique, hand-crafted works perfect for holiday gift-giving.
Twenty-one Illinois artisans will present fine craft including sparkling jewelry, colorful quilts, holiday ornaments, ceramics, fiber dolls, glass, wearables and ethnic dolls. Jewelry from fine materials such as beads and sterling silver; wearables like hand-painted scarves and one-of-a-kind hats; functional ceramic pieces; unique images in fiber and quilts; and a variety of holiday ornaments will provide choice gift-buying opportunities. As a special feature for the holiday season, Sue Link will display her fiber bird ornaments and Arlene Salamendra will display her hand-painted ornaments.
EXHIBITING ARTISANS
Charmaine Anthony, Oak Park, Sterling Silver Jewelry
Selena Derry Awoleye, Chicago, African American Dolls, Jewelry
Lilian Cartwright, Chicago, Sterling Silver Jewelry
Mickey Depre, Oak Lawn, Quilts
John Ferguson, Chicago, Sterling Silver Jewelry
Nadine Janus-Jones, Batavia, Sterling Silver Jewelry
Meryl Kleiman, Chicago, Notecards
Alice Liepins, Chicago, Animal Pins
Sue Link, Chicago, Fiber Bird Ornaments
Kirk Lockhart, Onarga, Ceramics
Pamela Lopatin, Woodstock, Fiber Dolls
Helen Lovell-Faron, Oak Park, Ceramics
Stephanie Marder, Chicago, Ceramics
Roberta Mezinskas, Chicago, Enameled Glass
Barbara Naas, Murphysboro, Glass
Arlene Salamendra, La Grange, Holiday Ornaments
Jane E. Shaffer, Mt. Prospect, Sterling Silver Jewelry
Karen Snow, La Grange, Hand-Painted Silk
Kate Strong, Chicago, Children's Wearables, Women's Hats
Barbara Willerman, Lincolnwood, Beaded Jewelry
Ayo Williams, Chicago, African American Dolls
The Illinois Artisans Shop, a not-for-profit endeavor, is a showcase for art work created by some of the state's finest artisans. It provides an ongoing opportunity to view and purchase the best designed and crafted traditional, contemporary, ethnic and folk art made in Illinois.
Illinois Artisans Shop
100 W. Randolph
Suite 2-200
Chicago, IL
312-814-5321
(Monday-Friday, 9:00 - 5:00)
FEATURE EXHIBIT - DECEMBER, 2005
Fire and Ice
Kurt Strobach and Todd Manicki will exhibit their work in glass at the Illinois Artisans Shop at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 2-200, Chicago, Illinois, December 1- 30, 2005. Kurt Strobach of Crystal Lake, Illinois creates fine hand-cut glass from European lead crystal. Strobach cuts and engraves sparkling crystal vases, wine carafes, wine glasses and bowls, using cold glass techniques have been passed down from generation to generation in his family. Strobach learned to cut glass as a young boy in Bohemia, using grinding wheels powered by lathes. Glass-cutting was a family tradition and way of life for his family. He immigrated to the United States in the late 1950's. By working in a machine shop, Strobach saved enough money to set up his own glass studio in the basement of his home. By 1979 he had established himself as an independent craftsman and continues to work today, specializing in this all but lost art of hand-cut glass. Strobach makes patterns on pieces of crystal, and uses a variety of grinding wheels to attain many different cuts. His skill as a master glass worker is evident in the sharp, sparkling cuts of his glass forms. Strobach and his work were recently featured on the Carol Duvall show on HGTV.
Todd Manicki of Farmer City works with hot glass to create plates, bowls and sculptural forms with swirling colors. He uses glassblowing techniques to shape heated, liquid glass into solid, graceful forms. Manicki's glass work is outstanding in its use of complex patterns and color schemes. He uses Venetian color techniques to create latticework and circular patterns of translucent color. To Manicki, optical effects, color and shadow are the most intriguing part of the hot glass process. He lets his color ideas determine the final form of the piece. He studied with Bill Boysen at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and graduated with a .F.A. in Glass in May, 2003. He opened his own glass studio in Farmer City in November, 2003, and is celebrating the studio's two-year anniversary this month. Manicki is glad be an artisan in Illinois. He says, "I am proud to be from Illinois, and would not consider a location outside of Illinois to continue my career in the glass arts." Manicki's work in glass and Strobach's engravings on crystal will be on view and available for purchase at the Illinois Artisans Shop, Chicago throughout the month of December, 2005.