Forty-five artists from across the country will display their work at the North Shore Art League’s “Art in the Village 2021” this coming weekend.
The annual juried show takes place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 11-12 in Hubbard Woods Park, 939 Green Bay Road, Winnetka.
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“It’s thrilling to have it back at Hubbard Woods Park,” said Linda Nelson, executive director of the North Shore Art League. “Not only for the artists that are participating — because this is their livelihood — but also the community so that they can enjoy a day outside in a safe environment and see beautiful art from all over the country.”
This year’s show was originally planned for June but was pushed back to September because of COVID restrictions.
“We cut back on how many artists we would accept so we could make it even safer by distancing the booths a little more than we normally do,” Nelson reported.
Professional fine artist Nina Weiss, who has taught at the North Shore Art League for many years, is serving as judge.
“I usually look for the true artist, meaning somebody who is being very honest about their work, is producing quality work, is producing unusual work, is not just trying to fill their walls to make sales,” Weiss said.
Artist Leslie Emery, who has participated in the “Art in the Village” shows many times, focused on representational works when she was studying art in college, and then did advertising projects. “Then I branched out into abstract work and I’ve been doing abstract work ever since, and I’m 63. I never had another job,” she said.
Emery explained that she was drawn to abstract art because “I have not really ever wanted to translate reality,” she said. “I have always wanted to create my own entity as a painter.”
Currently, Emery’s technique involves painting in acrylics on acrylic sheets of plexiglass.
“It is reversed, so I am painting on the back side and you are looking from the other side,” she explained. “I want my paintings to be joyous and uplifting and beautiful and transforming for people who purchase them.”
Emery will bring around 45 pieces to the exhibit. The price range of her artwork is $75 to $5,500.
Pennsylvania artist David Oleski set up a studio in Lake Forest for two weeks to prepare work for the Winnetka show and several other Midwest shows.
Oleski, who paints in oils on stretched linen, looks at the objects he is painting the entire time he is working on each project. He does that “for the sake of honesty and observation,” he explained.
In terms of his subjects, Oleski revealed, “I try to set up things that have a richness of color to them. For a while, I was trying man-made objects and I realized they just don’t have as much color as fruits and vegetables and flowers.”
The artist only works in natural light. He does that partially because of “how vivid and bright natural sunlight is,” he said. “Also, it forces you to structure your time. You only work when the light is best and when the sun goes down, you put the brush down and you’re done for the day.”
He will bring approximately 20 paintings to the exhibit. His work sells for from $1,200 to $8,000.
Armando Pedroso will be bringing examples of both his abstract work, for which he uses roofing tar, found objects, and other materials, and his series of barn paintings.
He particularly enjoys creating abstract pieces because, “I love the fact that I can take something out of the air that never existed and create something out of that,” Pedroso said.
A self-taught artist, Pedroso discovered his talent after making a bet.
“I worked for Xerox for 18 years in a corporate job,” he related. “Then 9/11 happened. They restructured and they said ‘We don’t need you. We can pay somebody else half the price we’re paying you.'”
He couldn’t find a job and decided to try painting.
“I made a little wish with God and said, ‘If I sell a painting in seven weeks, I will know that it’s a sign to be an artist.’ I sold five in a week.”
Pedroso never had to go back to a corporate job. After living in Chicago for 35 years, he bought a blueberry farm in central Michigan where he paints, grows blueberries and farms.
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Pedroso will bring around 20 pieces to the show. His works range from $375 to $7,000.
For further information, call 847-446-2870 or visit northshoreartleague.org.
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.