Sue Regis Opens Large Glass Art Studio Near Joliet's Library

JOLIET, IL — For a number of years, talented artists who grew up in Joliet believed they needed to leave and move to the Windy City to be successful. But that mindset has changed, Joliet's premier glass artist, Sue Regis, told Joliet Patch this week. And she's proof.

Regis recently opened her new studio, Sue Regis Glass Art, directly across the street from downtown's main branch of the Joliet Public Library.

At 32 W. Clinton Street, her business is right next door to the storefront for Art of Breath Galleria. That was opened last year by Ruben Calderon, a two-time cancer survivor, who is an amazing painter. Calderon's paintings and murals have been commissioned on numerous occasions by many of Joliet's largest companies and businesses.

Like Regis, Calderon also grew up in Joliet.

I asked Regis if she envisions more artists flocking to downtown Joliet, perhaps near her storefront?

"Ottawa and Clinton, that's definitely a goal of mine, for us artists to take over this area," Regis told Joliet Patch this week. "I love looking out at the library and all the history."

"I'm ready to rock and roll," she added.

Previously, Regis had a little studio of 650 square feet at Van Buren Street Plaza, which is near the city's fountain. Now, her new studio encompasses at least 1,500 square feet, plus she has a backroom, additional loft storage space as well as a bathroom. The storefront, she said, had been vacant since the 1980s when it was known as Walt's Hobby Shop.

It's now a one-of-a-kind art studio for Joliet, she said.

"It's a flame-working studio," Regis explained. "I used to weld before I got into glass. Now, I specialize in solid glass and sometimes blown glass."

(Article continues below this Facebook embed.)

As far as Joliet's downtown revitalization is concerned, "I know there has been a lot of talk over the years, but in the last couple of years, you can tell that there are investors walking the downtown here weekly. I would love to see way more art outside. Art is what revitalizes downtowns."

Years back, Regis pointed out, "the stigma was to leave Joliet to go find a community where (you) could be an artist. If you were an artist, you would leave Joliet and go to Chicago and it's sad because we have some amazing, amazing, artists and I really want to bring them all together."

Around the Joliet area, Sue Regis has quite a following.

Her Facebook page, Sue Regis Glass Art, has more than 3,700 Likes and 3,700 Followers.

(Article continues below this photo.)

Regis said her studio is open by appointments only, but she plans to hold a number of events aimed at generating more interest in downtown's art community.

"And I am going to be doing a few dates a month where artists can come in and meet with other artists and do projects together," she added.

And having Ruben Calderon next door is also a plus.

Both Regis and Calderon have been actively involved in the Old Joliet Prison's Burnt Art District.

"Art From the Ashes" is the special exhibit on display this summer and fall at the Joliet Area Historical Museum. Several Joliet area artists took ruins from the Old Joliet Prison buildings that were destroyed by arson in recent years and they turned them into unique collections of artwork, as you can see at the bottom of this article.

And for more information about her new studio, visit the Sue Regis Glass Art website.