KVAL hosts annual art show at courthouse
The DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore will once again host the Kishwaukee Valley Art League’s Northern Illinois Art Show this weekend. KVAL publicity chairman Jerry Hallaron said more than 50 artists and crafters will be on display Saturday and Sunday.
There is no admission fee for the art show, which will feature a healthy mix of new artists and KVAL veterans, Hallaron said. The Art Attack School of Art of Sycamore also will feature activities for children of all ages throughout the weekend.
Here is a preview and brief rundown for a few of this year’s returning artists:
1: John and Margaret Shatek
John and Margaret Shatek bring their family business, Shatek’s Wood Chalet, to the show for their third time. The Shateks and their son make handcrafted furniture in oak, walnut and cherry. Retired farmers, the Shateks started their business in 1983. John and his son build the furniture; Margaret does the finishing on John’s work and their son does his own finishing. The Shateks do about 50 shows per year and try to add new products each year.
2: Carol and John Schade
Palos Heights couple Carol and John Schade are another husband and wife who divide the work. Carol has done craft shows for 20 years, originally featuring clothing, but eventually adding hand-painted benches, furniture and other objects. Her husband builds the benches and she paints them. Starting with a base coat of house paint, she does the decorative flowers in acrylic and coats the work in urethane. Carol says they have always been well received in Sycamore and that they even have repeat customers.
3: David Farber
David Farber of Carpentersville will return to the show with his photographic scenes of animals and birds in their natural habitats. Farber does his own photography by means of high-speed photography and telephoto lenses.
4: Chris Tomsovic
Chris Tomsovic of Addison returns to the art show for her fourth time, bringing works from her “Greens ’N’ Things.” Tomsovic does both floral arrangements of artificial flowers and painting on glass, mirrors and some actual windows. Her husband makes the mirror frames and she does the painting on them. Tomsovic has done shows for 25 years and now does about 45 shows per year.
5: Mary Geurkink
Mary Geurkink of Glendale Heights creates stained glass works that incorporate photography into Tiffany stained glass art. Using computer technology, she is able to make a customer’s own photo the centerpiece of a stained glass creation, with the photo chemically fused to the glass. Geurkink has only done this type of work for three years, but has been to the art show each time since she started. This year, she is adding a new product: snack tables with stained glass sports logos on them. To see more of her work, visit www.eventlister.com/pictureperfect.
6: KVAL Group Booth
Several other local artists who are members of the Kishwaukee Valley Art League will exhibit paintings, drawings and other works in the KVAL Group Booth. Members are able to display two works in the booth, either on its hanging racks or on card tables for pieces that don’t hang.
If you go
What: KVAL’s 2009 Northern Illinois Art Show
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
Where: DeKalb County Courthouse, 133 W. State St. in Sycamore