Having her own studio has made all the difference to Mary Ann Trzyna and the 13 other artists who rent space at Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights.
But upkeep on the century-old former Elks Lodge building, where they also host exhibitions, is costly, so the tenants are joining together to sell T-shirts, chipping in on building maintenance in their uniquely creative way.
“It was a big deal for me to say I’m going to my studio. It helped my work,” said Trzyna, who first had a smaller space there and now a larger one, which she shares with fellow artist Marikay Peter Witlock, who does pastel paintings and drawings and has taught art for years.
Trzyna came up with the idea for the T-shirts, but all the artists have been enthusiastic about the project.
It didn’t hurt that Trzyna already had an entrepreneurial streak, having her own graphic design business for more than 20 years before she began dedicating all her time to her pastel and oil landscapes and printmaking on linoleum pieces. Trzyna also has an exhibition, “Earthly Delights,” now at South Suburban College.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, but is also self-taught, like the other artists who dabble in different mediums and value the Union Street space where they can seek advice from their colleagues. Besides Witlock, that includes gallery director Julian Graham, who often creates urban-themed photography, and Dorita Fuller, who does weaving.
Two floors of the gallery are for exhibits, right now occupied by student work from Bloom Township High School, Bloom Trail High School, and Marian Catholic High School. There’s also a small gift shop along with the studio space.
Each studio is decorated artistically with creative knick-knacks and highly organized art supplies and materials.
The T-shirt fundraising effort came about when the gallery was planning its 30-year anniversary celebration last fall. Fellow artist Christine Bailey already knew of a printer, Wami Swag, who offered a reasonable rate even for on-demand, smaller jobs.
“We did t-shirts as part of it,” said Trzyna. “It’s (the work involved) not a huge deal but it gives some further support.”
The T-shirt opportunity was opened up to all the artists. Trzyna uploads the art, standardizing the look but keeping each one unique. One of the best-selling shirts so far is a sunflower picture by artist Ginny Raftery, which Trzyna was recently wearing.
The shirts range in price from $20 to $28 and are available at www.wamiswag.com/shops/usgmarket
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.The gallery, which was founded in 1995, was originally subsidized by the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation. The artists formed a collaborative to run the gallery in 1998. But in 2004, the CSED lost most of its funding, closing the gallery. The artists then filed for nonprofit status and with help from Chicago Heights, was able to lease the building in 2006.
The gallery has a board, staff and volunteers, also gaining funds from renting the studio spaces, grants, but relying heavily on donations.
But the T-shirts aren’t only about money. They also give the artists a fun way to show off their work.
“This is just a wonderful, creative community,” said Trzyna. “It’s another way to support the gallery and the artist community, and that’s a big deal.”
Alejandra Mosqueda, the gallery coordinator who began working there about a year ago, had heard about Union Street from a friend, attended a reception and was hooked. She also loves the T-shirt sale idea and created one featuring a picture of a quirky, bright face.
“It was very exciting because I had never really thought about my art being on a T-shirt,” said Mosqueda, who is exhibiting her art right now at Chesterton Art Center in Indiana. “The idea was to just have fun with facial expressions.”
While Trzyna originally asked artists for only one design to feature on the t-shirts, she said she plans to expand the effort.
“I think I’ll go back to nudge them a little more,” she said.
The gallery is at 1527 Otto Blvd., where studio artists include Ginny Raftery, Julian Williams, Marikay Peter Witlock, Mary Ann Trzyna, Jean Lewis, Dorita Fuller, Jared Day and Merriona Pierce, along with guild artist Judy Tucker.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.