Health & Fitness
Two Local Art Museums Offer Quality Exhibits with Free Admission
Art doesn't have to be expensive and intimidating. Two local museums make it easy to enjoy a variety of artists for free.
We have two wonderful local and free art museums to put on your "things to do soon" list: the Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery and the Illinois State Museum. Both offer an opportunity to view art in a comfortable, casual setting and schedules filled with interesting exhibits.
The Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery is just off 111th Street in the Fine and Performing Arts Center at Moraine Valley Community College. This is more than a place for student art. The gallery presents works from local, national and international artists. The most recent exhibit by Canadian-born artist Lyn Richardson was specifically created for the space. It featured lights and sounds activated by the motion of visitors walking through the gallery. Three-dimensional forms floating above the space added a different dimension.
The next exhibit is the MVCC Juried Student Art Exhibition followed by a Juried Community Exhibition. The mix of local and international artists means you'll always see something new and thought-provoking in your neighborhood.
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According to the website, exhibits are available for viewing Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and during most Fine and Performing Arts Center performances. For information, contact Jennifer Kiekeben, Art Gallery coordinator, at (708) 608-4231 or Kiekebenj@morainevalley.edu.
My other favorite local art museum is the Illinois State Museum (ISM) in Lockport. This is a delightful gallery. The exhibits are interesting. The staff is knowledgable. There are always brochures explaining the work to you, which I find invaluable. Sometimes I just stare at an artwork and wonder why it's worth hanging in a gallery. The brochures are like a roadmap for each piece.
Find out what's happening in Palosfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The ISM also has a full schedule of lectures, tours and special events related to each exhibit. I recently attended a standing-room only lecture on antique quilts. While the speaker explained in detail the importance of quilts and the audience listened intently, I was able to walk through the galleries looking at the exhibit of Amish and English quilts. It helped me see each quilt in a new way.
The next exhibit opens May 6. Focus 4: Four Solo Exhibitions brings together the works of four different Illinois artists: Steven Robnett, Don Seiden, Mario Trejo, and Rebecca Wolfram. The museum is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from Noon - 5:00 p.m. For more information call 815-838-7400.
Art can be intimidating, but the DeCaprio Gallery and ISM Lockport make it easy and accessible. Be sure to take advantage of these local art treasures soon.
