Tall Grass Arts Association
367 Artists Walk
Park Forest, IL 60466
Tallgrassarts367@sbcglobal.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Muchnik (708) 748-5123, (home), (708) 439-2424 (mobile).

FABULOUSLY FOCUSED

Fabulously Focused, an exhibit of current works of Tall Grass Gallery Artists will open on Friday, July 9, with a reception from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.  The gallery is open to the public, free of charge.  Gallery hours are 11:00 .m. through 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Eleven new artists have successfully completed the jurying process and were invited to participate in the exhibit. They are Marvin Wiltgen of Park Forest, Patricia Wiseman of Burbank, Carey Primeau of Chicago, Jeanine Hill-Soldner of Algonquin, Colin Thomas of Homewood, Ann Goldsmith of Olympia Fields, Michael Weiss of Park Forest, Joe Pankowski of Park Forest, Debra Parker-Sawyer of Mokena, Anne Maraviglia of Gardner and Angela Redmond of Maywood.

In addition to the newly juried artists, many long-term Tall Grass artists will be exhibiting their work.  Artists who are already registered include:  CouSandra Armstrong, Marcia Babler, Richard Benoit, Lynne Brozynski, Joan Bulf, Maureen Cribbs, Linda Curl, Suzanne Dreher, Bronwyn Elkuss, David Fitzgerald, David George, Doris Gibson, Margi Hafer, Mancefield Harris, Barbara Henry, Barbara Hogu, Dennis Jennings, Selma Lisit, Claudia McCarthy, Tim McCue, Diana McGarel, Joe McIlhany, Patricia Moore, Charles Wyll Mull, Dennis O’Malley, Roger Paris, Richard Perna, Janice Pratt, Charlotte Sasser, Kathleen Schonauer, Carolyn Sims,  Mary Ann Trzyna, Elmira Smith Wilkey and Faye Zalecki.

Faye Zalecki, one of the curators explained, “Although there is a title to the exhibit – “Fabulously Focused” – the artists are not limited by theme or media.  They have been asked to display a sample of their current work.  It is always interesting to see how various artists evolve from exhibit to exhibit.”

A print of one of the original works in the exhibit will be raffled off during the run of the exhibit. The Raffle Art is by Charlotte Sasser. It is a Watercolor abstract piece entitled  "Whirling Ocean Life". 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Muchnik (708) 748-5123, (home), (708) 439-2424 (mobile).

Tall Grass To Host Tax Workshop For Artists

Tall Grass Arts Association will host a workshop for artists on Saturday, February 27, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the Tall Grass Gallery. The workshop leader is Julie Herwitt, CPA.

This informative workshop will cover basic income tax issues and record keeping for professional artists. Ms. Herwitt will begin with “How to choose an entity type for your business.” She will cover the various types of income and expenses that are common for creative individuals. She will review the numerous types of taxes that apply to artists as well as the need to make quarterly estimated tax payments.

Ms. Herwitt has a BS degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been a CPA since 1986 and maintains an active painting practice. She brings a unique vision to this complex aspect of every working artist’s life. The workshop is perfect for any self-employed individual including artists, dancers, filmmakers, actors, etc. It will provide the tools needed to file 2009 tax returns correctly.

The cost of the workshop is $10 for members of the Tall Grass Arts Association and $20 for non-members. Those who become first time members ($40) will receive free admission. The registration fee includes a packet of accounting/bookkeeping information. Checks should be made out to the Tall Grass Arts Association and mailed to Tall Grass Arts Association, 367 Artists Walk, PO Box 776, Park Forest, IL 60466. Receipt of a check will ensure space in the workshop.

The gallery is located at 367 Artists Walk in Downtown Park Forest adjacent to the Park Forest Village Hall. Gallery hours are 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For additional information or directions, call the Gallery at (708) 748-3377.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Muchnik (708) 748-5123, (home), (708) 439-2424 (mobile).

Tall Grass Arts Association Presents “Something Jazzy"

Tall Grass Arts Association will present an invitational exhibit entitled "Something Jazzy,” beginning Friday, February 12 and running through April 11, 2010. The exhibit was designed to showcase artists whose work interprets the spirit of jazz. Michéle P. Owens, one of the exhibit’s curators, notes, “There is something jazzy in all of us. It is our rhythm, our muse, our passion. It is the interpretation of the sounds of jazz and a reflection of our soul.”

CouSandra Armstrong, another of the curators, added that the artists are expressing themselves about a form of music that is loved worldwide – jazz. “Noticeable in many images are colors such as subtle blues, soft oranges, blasting reds and cool yellows. All are from one universal language, the language of jazz,” she said. ”Something Jazzy” will open with a reception on Friday, February 12 from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm. The public is invited to attend. Admission is free.

“Something Jazzy” was also curated by Janice Pratt. Invited artists are: CouSandra Armstrong, Terry Boykin, John Blanton, Keith Conner, Reynaldo Ferdinand, Quinton Foreman, Dennis Jennings, Patricia Moore, Roger Paris, Marcellous Lovelace, Michéle P. Owens, Janice Pratt, Dr. Yemonja Smalls, Pearlie Taylor, Cheryl Toles, Craig West and Doyle Wicks.

Included in the exhibit are works in a variety of media including painting, mixed media and photography, both realistic and manipulated. Keith Connor created the image, Jazz Man,” that was utilized on the promotional materials for the exhibit. It is a mixed media painting that depicts a musician soulfully playing a soprano saxophone in a jazz club. Keith has donated a print of his painting to be raffled at Tall Grass.

The one three-dimensional work in the exhibit was created by Roger Paris. It is a drawing of New Orleans street musicians on a tambourine mounted on a pedestal. Roger is also exhibiting two manipulated photographs of guitar shapes photographed at the Gibson Guitar Factory in Memphis, Tennessee near Beale Street. Roger is the former Director of the Tall Grass Art School and currently teaches photography in the school.

Doyle Wicks is a former fashion photographer, working for a major department store and various publications. His three works in the show are manipulated photographs of jazz great Miles Davis.

This invitational show is dedicated to the memory of Tall Grass artist Jeanne Paris. Well known for her serigraphs, Jeanne’s work often focused on music and musical instruments. She was a committed member of Tall Grass almost from its inception. Jeanne died two years ago but her love of art lives on in the collections of many south suburbanites.

The artists participating in “Something Jazzy” will be available at the reception to discuss their work. The gallery is located at 367 Artists Walk, in Downtown Park Forest, adjacent to Village Hall.

For additional information or directions, call the Gallery at (708) 748-3377, or CouSandra at (708) 642-8477. Additional information about participating artists and other exhibit details can be found on the Tall Grass Arts Association web site www.tallgrassarts.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CALL: Janet Muchnik (708) 748-5123 (home) or (708) 439-2424 (mobile)

Tall Grass Film Series to Feature “Moon”

The Tall Grass Arts Association’s art film series will show the film “Moon” on Sunday, January 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Marcus Movie Theater located at 1301 Hilltop Avenue in Chicago Heights. The film’s release coincided with the 40th anniversary of the first moonwalk but instead of celebrating mankind’s achievements, the movie casts a dark shadow over them.

Sam Rockwell plays Sam Bell, an astronaut miner extracting the precious moon gas that promises to reverse the Earth's energy crisis. For three long years, Sam Bell has dutifully harvested Helium 3 for Lunar; a company that claims it holds the key to solving humankind's energy crisis. His trusty companion is the computer system GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey), who prepares his meals, tends to his wounds and monitors the moon base’s activities.

As Sam's contract comes to an end, the lonely astronaut looks forward to returning to his wife and daughter down on Earth. With only two weeks to go before he begins his journey back to Earth, Sam starts feeling strange: he's having inexplicable visions and hearing impossible sounds. Then, when a routine extraction goes horribly awry, it becomes apparent that Lunar hasn't been entirely straightforward with Sam about their plans for replacing him. The new recruit seems strangely familiar, and before Sam returns to Earth, he will grapple with the realization that the life he has created may not be entirely his own

“Moon” is a suspenseful and haunting science fiction drama, a promising feature debut by director Duncan Jones. It doesn’t resemble modern sci-fi, but it does have a classic science fiction feel to it. And while “Moon”, in the best speculative tradition, is about many things, on one level it's a scathing critique of late capitalism, and our participation in our own exploitation.

Following the film, there will be a discussion in the movie theater. For additional information, call the Tall Grass Gallery at (708) 748-3377. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR INFORMATION CALL: Janet Muchnik, (708) 748-5123 or (708) 439-2424 or Javier Chavira, curator, at (708) 534-4017 or email j-chavira@govst.edu or javierchavira@mac.com

Tall Grass Hosts “The Sacred, the Spiritual and the Sensual”

Tall Grass Arts Association will host an exhibit entitled “The Sacred, the Spiritual and the Sensual” beginning on Friday, December 4 and running through January 11, 2010. The exhibit was curated by Javier Chavira and features the works of Chavira as well as Harry Sudman and Sergio Gomez. The opening reception will be held on Friday, Dec. 4 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The gallery is open to the public, free of charge.

Chavier, who curated the exhibit and participates in it, is an Associate Professor of painting and drawing at Governors State University. He earned a Master in Arts degree from Governors State and a Master of Fine Arts from Northern Illinois University. At Northern Illinois University Javier studied “Technique Mixte”, an adaptation of a 16th century Flemish painting technique, under the direction of Professor Patrick Betaudier. He has exhibited widely and has won many awards for his work. He is a member of the public arts organization “Friends of Community Public Art” of Joliet and has created public work for approximately eleven years. His work is in numerous public and private collections including the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum in Chicago.

The second artist participating in the exhibit is Harry Sudman. In the late 1970’s, Sudman studied under master painter Patrick Betaudier at the Atelier Neo Medici in Paris. Sudman mastered a traditional realistic technique, which has been a springboard to a variety of styles he currently implements. He presently exhibits his work at 33 Collective Gallery in Chicago and in the past has exhibited internationally at “F.I.A.C “ at the Grande Palais in Paris, Art Expo Chicago, Gallery Ravel in Soho and others. He is also the author of numerous large-scale projects commissioned by Wheaton College, Commerzbank of Germany, Hyatt Hotels and others.

Sergio Gomez, the third artist, was born in Puebla, Mexico in 1971. At the age of sixteen, he and his family moved from Mexico City to the Chicago area where he has lived for over 15 years. Sergio Gomez attended Joliet Junior College, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Governors State University and Northern Illinois University where he received a Master of Fine Arts Degree. In 1995, while at Governors State University, Sergio received the Lincoln Laureate Medallion Award given by the Lincoln Academy and former Governor of Illinois, Jim Edgar. The art of Sergio Gomez has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions in venues such as, The National Museum of Mexican Art, Brauer Museum of Art, Museum of Science and Industry, Northern Indiana Arts Association, Fassbender Gallery, Aldo Castillo Gallery, Arte de Mexico Gallery, Ruben Aguirre Gallery, 33 Collective Gallery, Quincy Art Center, Beverly Art Center, Billy Graham Center Museum, Aurora Public Art Commission, Park Forest Art Center, Oak Park Art League, Northern Illinois University, Columbia College, Governors State University, Valparaiso University, Olivet Nazarene University, South Suburban College, Elmhurst College, Benedictine College, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College, Rosary College, Kankakee Community College and Joliet Junior College among others.

Sergio Gomez is a full time art faculty member at South Suburban College. In 2004, Sergio co-founded 33 Collective Gallery in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. 33 Collective Gallery represents emerging and established Chicago artists while presenting exhibition opportunities to artists from the United States and abroad. In January 2009, Sergio founded VisualArtToday.com; a curated online exhibition space for international contemporary art. In addition, Sergio is an accomplished graphic designer, web designer, illustrator and in-house curator for the Zhou B. Art Center in Chicago.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Muchnik (708) 748-5123 (home) or (708) 439-2424 (mobile)

Tall Grass Hosts Holiday Show and Sale

Tall Grass Arts Association’s annual holiday show and sale in the Mini-Gallery/Gift Shop opened on Friday, November 13 and will run through January 4, 2010. The show features the artworks of Tall Grass artists priced especially for holiday gift giving. The works represent a wide range of styles and media, including jewelry, stained glass, hand-painted silk ties and scarves, blown-glass balls, holiday cards with original photographs or paintings, wax origami decorations, prints, photographs, collages and paintings.

“The holiday show offers the opportunity to buy your friends and family a one-of-a-kind, hand created work of art,” said Janet Muchnik, President of Tall Grass. “Many of the artists participating in the holiday show are those who exhibit in the Park Forest Art Fair so their work may be familiar to anyone who goes to the fair. Many are shipping their works from great distances in order to be represented in the show. And, the wonderful thing about the holiday show is that everything in it was priced with gift giving in mind. Of course, many people will want to shop for themselves but the pricing was designed to make gift-giving affordable.”

The Tall Grass Gallery and Mini-Gallery/Gift Shop are located in DownTown Park Forest, between Western Avenue and Orchard Drive, adjacent to Village Hal. The Gallery is open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For additional information, call the gallery at (708) 439-2424 or check the Tall Grass website at www.tallgrassarts.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Muchnik (708) 748-5123 (home) or (708) 439-2424 (mobile)

Tall Grass Film Series Presents "Is Anybody There?"

Tall Grass Arts Association announces its fall 2009 Art Film series will begin on Sunday, October 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Marcus Theatre in Chicago Heights. The series opens with the independent British feature, “Is Anybody There?” starring two- time Academy Award winner Sir Michael Caine in what is being heralded as the performance of his career. The 4-film subscription series cost is $28.00. Subscriptions are currently on sale in the Tall Grass Gallery and will be on sale in the lobby prior to the screening of the film. Individual tickets are $8.00 per film and will be available at the box office the day of the film.

Set in a sea-side English town circa 1987, “Is Anybody There?” takes place at Lark Hall, a retirement home in which the retired and widowed magician, Clarence Parkinson (Caine), comes reluctantly to take up residence. As the weeks pass, however, he is befriended by 10 year-old Edward (Bill Milner of “Son of Rambow”) whose curiosity and obsession with the supernatural re-awaken Clarence’s passion for magic. Their mutual fascination with each other take the unlikely pair on an adventure of discovery wherein the proud and aging performer and the precocious child conjure up something special of their own: a friendship that will change both their lives. Filled with colorful characters played brilliantly by some of Britain’s most gifted stage actors such as Rosemary Harris, Peter Vaughan, Sylvia Sims, Thelma Barlow and Leslie Phillips, the film is sure to delight and spark introspective thoughts on growing up, growing old and the unpredictable adventures that happen along the way.

The film is in English and runs 95 min. in length.

Following the film, there will be a discussion in the movie theater. The discussion will be lead by film enthusiast and Tall Grass Arts Association Board member, Suzanne Patterson. Suzanne's passion for film began at age 6 when she joined a film club for children in her home town of Dumfries, Scotland. Today, in addition to the Tall Grass Film Series, Suzanne facilitates a film studies course for The Adult Learning Exchange (T.A.L.E.) at Governor's State University as well as various film discussion series’ throughout the Chicago area.

TALL GRASS TO FEATURE GALLERY ARTISTS

The Tall Grass Arts Association presents “Here and Now”, the annual exhibit of works by Tall Grass gallery artists, beginning on Friday, September 25 and running through November 21. The exhibition will open with a reception and introduction of the artists on September 25 from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. The gallery is located at 367 Artists Way in DownTown Park Forest, adjacent to the Park Forest Village Hall. Admission is free.

The exhibit features the works of many long-time as well as several new Tall Grass artists. Four of the newly juried artists whose work will be included in the exhibit are Linda Curl and Barbara Hogu of Park Forest, Dennis O’Malley of Wilmette and Cheryl Toles of Hazel Crest. Linda is a painter who works with acrylics. Barbara is a photographer. Her work in the exhibit was printed on canvas. Dennis works with etching and watercolors. Cheryl is a batik artist.

Artists whose work is familiar to Tall Grass audiences include: CouSandra Armstrong, Marcia Babler, Joan Bulf, James Bowden, Carol Boyajian, Claudia Craemer, Maureen Cribbs, Karen DePirro, Karen Dewitt, Pam Eberlin, Orgean Freeman, David George, Doris Gibson, Margi Hafer, Barbara Henry, Robert Johnson, Sylvia Koch, Selma Lisit, Claudia McCarthy, Diane McGarel, Elaine Martin, Paula Mattson, Robert Mongeau, Patricia Moore, Renee Nordstrom, Jim McCue, Michele Owens, Roger Paris, Stuart Pearson, Janice Pratt, Donna Radcliffe, Florine Robinson, Richard Schmidt, Ginny Raftery, Nance Tucker. Mary Ann Trzyna, Milvi Wheeler, Leon Wade, Claire Wiest, Peter Wilhelm and Faye Zalecki.

The artists work in a variety of media ranging from painting, in both acrylic and watercolor, pastels, printmaking and photography, as well as the three dimensional art forms such as sculpture and pottery. There is not a specific theme to the exhibit. Instead, the exhibit provides the opportunity for the artists to demonstrate their current interests, techniques and works to other artists and the pubic.

"Here and Now" was curated by CouSandra Armstrong, Janice Pratt, Richard Schmidt and Faye Zalecki.

For additional information, call the Gallery at (708) 748-3377 or check the Tall Grass Website at www.tallgrassarts.org. More information about participating artists and other exhibit details can be found on the Tall Grass Arts Association web site (www.tallgrassarts.org).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Grant White (708) 758-1876, Michéle P. Owens (708) 307-2762, CouSandra Armstrong (708) 747-0168, Donna Radcliffe (773) 960-2007.

Tall Grass Arts Association Presents “With These Hands” 2009 Sculpture Invitational

The Tall Grass Arts Association presents “With These Hands”, a compilation of sculptural works and wall images, beginning on Friday, July 10 and running through September 13. The exhibition will open with a reception and introduction of the artists on July 10 from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. The gallery is located at 367 Artists Way in DownTown Park Forest, adjacent to the Park Forest Village Hall. Admission is free.

The exhibit features the works of local and national artists. It will be the first of its kind for the Tall Grass Gallery and the first time several of these artists have exhibited in the Chicagoland area. Their combined artistic goal is to engage the viewing public in the magic of sculpture. Included in the exhibit are works by Joshua Andres, Patricia Bohannon, Louis Greer, John Hansen, Angela Lee, Michéle P. Owens, Michael Ruback, Eric Steele, Jan Stewart, Grant White and Robert R. Williams. All of the artists in the exhibit have studied and created works in other art forms but have come to prefer the “hands on” art form of sculpture. Each has experienced the joy of the combination of thoughts and three-dimensional representation of those thoughts.

Joshua Andres from Benton Harbor, Michigan, focuses on one-of-a-kind metal fabrications. His work has been displayed throughout the Midwest. Joshua says about art, "Artwork colors our lives and makes them interesting. A world without art would be a drab, dull place with no feeling. My world revolves around art, not only my art, but all art, new and old. Art documents the history of our world, not with words and quotes but with feelings and emotions. Art for me is an outlet. It is a way for me to express my feelings and emotions to the rest of the world. I work with different media to achieve different goals and to express different feelings. The art I create speaks of me and of my world. If I am to be remembered, this is what for."

Michael Ruback, a participating Chicago artist who was initially trained as a musician, states, “My work is better than I am. It is freer, more generous, more open-hearted and braver”. His realistic bronze hands provide a whimsical and dynamic viewing experience.

Robert R. Williams from Stevensville, Michigan says that his “motivation is more for the love of the process of doing, rather than a desire to say something”. Robert's life-sized, realistic three-dimensional portraits compel one to appreciate the “visual beauty” of his subjects, which may not be immediately apparent to the casual observer. Robert works in plaster, bronze and other media.

Chicago artist Angela Lee creates stoneware works, which resemble Middle Eastern design and are “recorded, etched, drawn, or painted on the surface or molded into the form itself”. Lee uses fired stoneware to capture the colors and shapes of body modification—elements that fade, distort and decay with age—in a static state. In her unique manipulation of the human body, Angela allows the subject to become the “principal embodiment of thought, feeling and emotion”.

Grant White, an artist from Ford Heights who works in bronze, exhibits regularly in the Park Forest Art Fair. One of his works was selected for the Tall Grass permanent collection.

In addition to bronze, ceramics, and plaster, other artists have included sculptures formed with steel, wood, copper, paper maché or a combination of these materials.

"With These Hands" was curated by CouSandra Armstrong, Michéle P. Owens, Donna Radcliffe and Grant White.

For additional information, call the Gallery at (708) 748-3377 or check the Tall Grass Web site at www.tallgrassarts.org. More information about participating artists and other exhibit details can be found on the Tall Grass Arts Association web site (www.tallgrassarts.org).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ALL ZONES

Tall Grass Arts Association will present an exhibit of more than seventy works by
Nikkole Huss and Heather Page called LAND MARKS: Restoration & Regeneration.
The exhibit will run from May 15 through June 27, 2009 and its opening reception
will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009, from 7-9pm.

The show will include drawings; encaustic paintings; fiber, wood and waxworks; a
group of panels created through extensive reinterpretation and reconstruction of
earlier prints; and three wall and freestanding installations.

Nikkole Huss and Heather Page, widely-exhibited artists and college educators at Concordia University and Governors State University respectively, have taken as their inspiration for this large collection of new works both distant views of Earth – natural formations and surface identities from satellite images, and macro views – close-ups of lichen, moss, wood bark and various organic processes of growth, decay and erosion.

Nikkole’s evocative abstractions, derived from references to her earlier series of invented alphabets and topographical-map ink drawings, present images of our planet from space that have been softened, melted and reconfigured. Her works in multiple layers of wax and color in encaustic, sewn layers of fibers on felt,and mixed media installations of excavated sites suggest digitally generated or enhanced visions of Earth as well as
plant, water or land forms.

Heather’s large-scale three-dimensional houses and multi-media panels incorporate fragments of earlier prints and reference natural forms through labor-intensive layering of papers and other materials with numerous drawing, painting
and printmaking techniques. Her interests in organic and synthetic elements of the environment inform works that represent, literally and symbolically, natural processes,
the passage of time and remnants of evolution.

Both artists have arrived at expressive, personal techniques of mark-making: densely layered patches and rhythmic dabs, glowing clusters of translucent and textual patterns, and images that represent private spaces that are observed and remembered, filtered and refined.They present evidence of an ongoing transformative process through continuous growth, recreation and renewal.

LAND MARKS: Restoration and Regeneration, curated by Claudia Craemer, should
provide a wonderful opportunity to observe current trends in media and content. All students in art and design courses are encouraged to view the exhibit, and school or organization tours can be arranged.

The opening reception for LAND MARKS is Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 7 to 9 pm.
Tall Grass Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 4pm.