Naperville Artists Team Up for Holiday Show to Benefit the Hungry of DuPage County

In an effort to provide some relief for the food insecure of DuPage county, three local artists, along with other artisans from the area, are hosting a holiday show to benefit Loaves & Fishes Community Services, the Naperville area food pantry.

Friday, November 21st from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, November 22ndfrom 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday the 23rd from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., customers will be lining up at the “Potting Shed,” behind 225 N Wright St., in Naperville, IL. These three local Naperville artists, whose work is sold all over the US, will feature their pieces in a sales benefit for Loaves & Fishes Community Services. 20% of all sales from those three days will go to aid the food and empowerment programs Loaves & Fishes provides for DuPage County residents. A continuation of a holiday open house tradition for the last 14 years, this year these three women and other artists will show work created especially for their holiday 2014 collections.

In addition to the ceramic works and jewelry, other items available will be handmade soaps, luxurious fuzzy mittens, oil paintings, beautifully crafted paper goods, and much more. The artists will be expanding the space to double that of last year’s holiday show, offering a wider array of locally made goods.

Attendees are encouraged to bring toiletry items that will be donated directly to Loaves & Fishes. The names of those who bring toiletry items will be entered in a special raffle sponsored by the artists. Prizes from each artist will be given to three separate winners at the conclusion of the show Sunday evening.

About the artists:

Laurie Pollpeter Eskenaziis a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago with over 30 years of experience working in clay. As a young girl she was fascinated with the things found in her Grandmother’s house. It was filled with old quilts, button boxes, antique textiles and bits of lace. For as long as she can remember she loved and created objects rich in texture, color and a bit of nostalgia. Laurie draws inspiration from the colorful tile work in Spain, the intricate patterns and rich colors of places like India or Morocco and the traditional needle crafts created by woman all over the world. She transforms vintage designs into contemporary stoneware pieces. Laurie is a full time artist working from her home studio in the historic district of Naperville. Her work is sold in over 150 galleries and specialty stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. Please visit www.LPEclay.com or her Facebook page LPEclay for more information.

Sophia Forero What do First Lady Michelle Obama and Sex and the City stylistPatricia Field have in common? They both own a fabu mosaic jewel by Sophia Forero! Her passion for color, texture, and design stems from her love of history and experience of international culture. After earning a Master’s atUniversity of Chicago, she worked for the US Peace Corps, teaching and traveling throughout Eastern Europe. Sophia went on to see the world, gathering inspiration and materials from which she began to craft fine jewels. She has learned seven languages, helping her to communicate with artisans from all over the globe, including Russia, Mexico, and her family’s country of Greece.

Sophia Forero Designs has been featured in over 300 fine boutiques and specialty stores in the U.S., Europe, and Canada, including Bloomingdale’s, Hall’s, and Oilily. She is a past Marshall Field’s Distinction in Design winner and FGI Rule Breakers award recipient.

Sophia’s pieces are on the red carpet- actresses Sarah Jessica Parker, Vivica Fox, Keiko Agena, Olympia Dukakis, and Nia Vardalos are just a few who enjoy her work. Her jewels have appeared in such films as SHOPGIRL, and are worn by the fabulous anchorwomen of CNN, NBC, WGN and ABC Chicago, as well as FOX 5 in Washington, D.C.

Sophia is a proud graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. Her growth plan will take her mosaics to borders she only dreamed of before- look for her upcoming Indiegogo campaign Adorn One World this fall 2015!

Sophia is a mother of four. She works alongside my husband, installation artist Mauricio Forero, in their joint studio in Naperville, IL.

Please visit www.sophiaforero.com for more.

Daina Maria Pakalnis has been an artist for many years. A graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago in graphic-exhibition design, she also holds a BA in psychology from University of Illinois. She devoted many years to representing hundreds of artists in her gallery, BAS Gallery, in Naperville until her closing in 2008. Now in her second chapter, she is moving full force pursuing her calling and creating her mixed media works. Her pieces are in galleries and museums throughout the US. Please visit www.basgallery.com for more information.

About Loaves & Fishes:

Founded in 1984, Loaves & Fishes is located at 1871 High Grove Lane, Naperville and provides multi-faceted programs, such as job search support, food assistance, skill-based classes and public benefit assistance, to low-income, west suburban residents. Learn more about getting help, making a donation, or volunteering at http://www.loaves-fishes.org.