Ivy Sundell has created three fine art books dedicated to local artists: “The Chicago Art Scene”; “Art Scene: Chicago 2000”; and “Living Artists.” When she reflected on those books, it occurred to the Winnetka resident that writers might find inspiration in the paintings pictured there.
That’s how her “Visions of Life” concept was born.
“I got the idea that these paintings could be prompts for writers,” Sundell said. “I got into trying to bring art into the literary world.”
That resulted in the publication of “Visions of Life” in 2015, a book which included images of artwork and the writings inspired by those pieces. A second book, “Visions of Life 2?, was published in 2020.
Several contributors to the second book will be present at a book signing from 6-7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Bookends & Beginnings, 1712 Sherman Ave., Alley #1, Evanston.
In order to inspire writers, Sundell posted all of the paintings from her three books on her website. Writers were asked to choose one painting that inspired them and create a short story that includes the painting. From the submissions, Sundell chose the best stories for each of her books.
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“I’m really pleased with the stories people came up with,” Sundell said.
She included 10 selections from nine authors in the second book, which includes biographies and discussion questions for reading groups. The book is available on her website for $15 and on Amazon.
Three authors will be at the book signing at Bookends & Beginnings to talk about their work.
Writer Elizabeth DeSchryver, who was inspired by Jacqueline Moses’ “Throes of Progress: Quiet Invasions,” will discuss how that artwork inspired her story, “Quiet Invasions.”
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DeSchryver said she was interested in entering the competition because of her deep background in art history.
She chose to write about Moses’ artwork because, “There was something powerful about her villagescape,” the writer said. “It reminded me of places I’ve seen in Europe. But also the glow of the buildings against the dark background really drew me in. When I read the description, that’s when I noticed all the images of war that were blended into the cobblestones. That was what I decided to make the focus of the story.”
In DeSchryver’s story, an elderly woman discovers this painting in her granddaughter’s husband’s home.
“It takes her back to an experience she had during World War II in Ukraine,” the writer said. “I built the story around the idea that she witnessed this event that happened in this particular town in Ukraine.”
It involved people on day passes from a labor camp secretly digging up pieces of the Torah that had been buried in the cemetery, assembling the Torah and smuggling it back into camp. The woman who witnessed this was the daughter of one of the Nazi superintendents at the camp who was sheltered from what was happening. She hid memories of her father’s role in the war and what she saw from her family.
DeSchryver also wrote a story based on the painting “Disappearing Act” inspired by Katherine Grossfeld’s “Sparkle.”
Artist Jacqueline Moses of Skokie said she was happy to learn that her painting had inspired a writer.
“It’s another way of getting a little attention,” she said, adding, that she wasn’t surprised it inspired a writer because “my paintings tend to be narrative and so I can see where they might lend themselves to somebody writing about something.”
Moses said she created the artwork based on small towns she visited in the 1990’s when she toured Europe, where she discovered remnants of war.
The artist was impressed with DeSchryver’s take on her painting.
“It sounds like a true story,” Moses said.
Other writers attending the book signing will be Paco Aramburu and Barbara Joyce.
There will be an exhibit based on Sundell’s two “Visions of Life” books at the Skokie Library from Nov. 2 through Dec. 20. Sundell is inviting visitors to write a storyline for the exhibit by Dec. 8 when there will be an event, “Art Sparks Writing with Ivy Sundell: Creative Workshop and Open Mic,” 6:30-8 p.m. at the Skokie Public Library.
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.