Community Corner
The Vickery Who Didn’t Paint Ships
The late Charles Vickery was Western Springs' most celebrated artist. But, did you know that he had a twin sister who was also an accomplished painter?
For many years, the Clipper Ship Gallery in LaGrange has featured the seascapes and maritime paintings of Western Springs resident Charles Vickery. His works are found in many prestigious collections, as well as our historic water tower museum. But, the family’s artistic talent also extended to his twin sister, Florence Vickery Guise.
Born in Hinsdale in 1913, Florence and her family moved to Western Springs when she was just nine years old. Largely a self-taught artist, her interest in painting developed at an early age. She was encouraged by her brother, Charles, and her high school art teacher, Edith Murphy. In 1940, she married Edward Guise of Western Springs.
Unlike her brother, who specialized in seascapes and maritime art, Florence chose a variety of birds as subjects for her oil and casein paintings. She was represented in more than 14 exhibitions, including several in New York, and received first prizes and awards in four prominent Chicago-area shows.
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According to records in the Western Springs Historical Society archives, she spent many hours painting birds along country roads, in the Indiana Dunes, at the Morton Arboretum, and the Field Museum, where her works have been exhibited. She shared a studio in LaGrange with her twin brother, Charles, who painted the portrait of Florence shown above.
Florence also shared her interest in painting with others, teaching local area students for many years. While best known for her avian paintings, she also taught general art to others. In the third photo, she can be seen helping a student capture the historic significance of the original Western Springs train station just prior to its demolition in the early 1970’s.
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While Florence passed away in 1973, two of her works of art (one of which is shown in the fourth photo) are on permanent display at the Western Springs Historical Society’s museum, which is located in the village’s historic water tower. The museum is open every Saturday, 10 a.m. to Noon, or by special appointment.
