The Grosse Pointe Lighthouse Lights Up Fountain Square ...In New Ways

Cubism, impressionism, all sorts of ‘isms’…not the Art Institute, but the second annual interactive project at the Fountain Square Art Festival. Last year’s first project was
done square by square and the result was a puzzle that became the beautiful Merrick Rose Garden fountain that marks Evanston.

“Last year we had a 120 individuals working on the project, and we were delighted with the number of those involved this year,too,”, according to Elaine Kemna-Irish, executive director of the sponsoring organization, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce.

This year participants were asked to paint iconic Evanston landmarks…with a modern bent which includes all those ‘isms’ and more. Lynette Martin, owner of Bottle and Bottega in downtown Evanston developed the concept along with Shaun Chinsky of Good’s, Kemna-Irish and Jerry Alt of Bordeaux Studios.

“We knew we wanted it to be a multi-panel mural where community members worked together,” said Martin. “ I suggested that Jerry Alt photograph the Gross Point Lighthouse, and we wound up with four different styles—realism, impressionism, cubism,…and since we offer all art forms, a fourth mixed media piece replete with spangles.”

Martin said the project drew a lot of adults to mural painting and Bottle and Bottega’s instructors did an excellent job of explaining the variations in the styles with a large dose of levity. “The participants had fun and learned something, too,” Martin added.

Displaying their interpretations of the lighthouse in impressionism and as well as realism are:
Left Lynette Martin and Jerry Alt

photo by Matthew Rubinberg Photography Copyright