Local artists exhibit at EAG Winter Members’ Show

Artists from Elmhurst and other Chicago-area communities are participating in an exhibition of their works during the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild 2017 Winter Member Show, running from January 8 through February 17 in the EAG Gallery at the Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst, Illinois. The opening reception, which is free and open to the public, is being held in the gallery Friday, January 13, from 7 to 9 pm.

All of the artwork is judged by a prominent area artist or gallery owner, and prizes are awarded to winning entries during the opening reception. The exhibit features over 50 oil, watercolors, acrylics, photos, ceramics and sculptures in many distinct and unique styles. Most pieces are for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Guild and the Elmhurst Art Museum.

EAG member Cherylyn Gnadt’s entry is Domestic Nuance, a mixed-media piece consisting of a myriad of layers, starting with paint and paper, then applying digitally manipulated and merged personal photography. She says of her work, “Every layer and inclusion is personal reflection, but the message of perseverance is universal.” It is part of a series entitled “Looking In & Letting Go,” reflecting her interactions and observances over the last five years.

Another entry into the EAG Winter Member Show is by Carol Hamilton. Her piece, Breathe, is an encaustic diptych, 12x24 in size. Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. Hamilton’s abstract paintings are inspired by “the floating world of transience and impermanence and the mystery of what lies beneath,” according to the artist. “I want them to be a vehicle for contemplation,” she said.

Charlotte Cziperle is exhibiting Dextrocardia, a recent oil and cold wax painting that made its debut in her recent solo exhibit 'Organic Spaces'. Cziperle is a professional artist who paints both abstract and representational art in oil. She enjoys painting plein air, as well as in her studio in the western suburbs. She says she is inspired by the vibrant colors and texture found in nature and the reflection of one’s own being during quiet moments in nature preserves.

The exhibition can be viewed during regular Museum hours, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm and Friday from 11 am to 7 pm. The first Friday of each month is the Museum’s free admission day. At other times, admission for adults is $8 and for seniors $7. EAM and Guild members, students and children under 18 are admitted free.

The EAG gallery is not-for-profit, operated by the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild. It features original 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 have been partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council. More information is available at elmhurstartistsguild.org.