Creative Living Series talk: Richard Cahan and Michael Williams

Photographer Richard Nickel is an urban legend, of sorts. The architectural preservationist waged a brave and lonely 20-year struggle to protect Chicago’s architectural heritage from the wrecking ball. He died in the rubble of the Chicago Stock Exchange.

Richard Cahan and Michael Williams have captured his story in words and pictures in Richard Nickel Dangerous Years: What He Saw and What He Wrote. The Woodstock Fine Arts Association brings Cahan and Williams to the Woodstock Opera House on Thursday, January 18 at 10:00 a.m.

As for the remaining Creative Living Series lectures, the following line-up has been announced, with each event also beginning at 10 a.m. on the opera house stage.

February 15 - Lindsay Mican Morgan: Art Institute’s Thorne Rooms – Tiny Grandeur

March 15 – Mary Skinner: Irena Sendler – In the Names of their Mothers - WWII Polish Resistance

April 19 – Melissa Hannon: Peace & Paws Dog Rescue – Accent on the Smiles

The Creative Living Series is the nation’s oldest non-university sponsored lecture series. Not only is this an opportunity to be inspired and entertained by guest lecturers on the historic Woodstock Opera House stage, a question and answer period follows and audience members are invited to come face-to-face with the speaker. Both Cahan and Williams will be on hand to personally-sign their books which will be available for purchase, following their talk.

The Creative Living experience also includes Coffee and Conversation in the Stage Left Café which opens at 9 a.m., just adjacent to the opera house.

For single $25 tickets to Richard Nickel Dangerous Years: What He Saw and What He Wrote,, contact the Woodstock Opera House by phone at (815) 338-5300 or online at www.woodstockoperahouse.com. For in person ticket purchases, the opera house box office is open Mondays – Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 121 Van Buren in Woodstock.

The Woodstock Fine Arts Association is a not-for-profit 501 (3)(c), volunteer-run organization devoted to promoting the arts in McHenry County and preserving the Woodstock Opera House. Since 1961, this group has worked to produce vibrant arts programming for all ages, from school children to adults as well as scholarships to area high school students. The WFAA focuses on four primary programs: Creative Living Series, Children’s Program, Scholarship, and Talent Showcase. The WFAA season’s only fundraising event is the annual Spring Luncheon.

The public is invited to follow the Woodstock Fine Arts Association’s news, events and updates on Facebook (Facebook.com/WoodstockFineArts/); Twitter ((twitter.com/@ArtsWoodstock); Instagram (instagram.com/woodstockfinearts/)and on the Woodstock Fine Arts Association website (www.woodstockfinearts.org/).