Chicago Magazine article and other stuff

La Grange is featured in the August CHICAGO MAGAZINE as having the best suburban downtown. (see page 103). In the blurb they mention our Art League as one of the factors that makes this town feel like of Mayberry for the 21st Century!

Speaking of articles, today's Trib Local has a story on Holly Hess, her artist of the month exhibit and her rather unusual art education. Check it out.

Holly's reception was held last Sunday afternoon. Despite really really dreadful heat and a messed up street, there was a large turn out. The exhibit is interesting and diverse. Holly has explored a lot of avenues.....sculpture, pastel, oil, silk painting.....and many different subjects. If you haven't seen it yet, you should really drop by and enjoy.

Plein air last Wednesday was at Kiwanis Park in La Grange. There were only two of us. It was a beautiful day and the flowers were in full bloom, great for anyone who likes to paint nature at its most colorful. It will meet there again next Wednesday morning. Try to go....the flowers will still be there and hopefully the weather will cooperate again.

Holly Hess

Holly Hess, who is the featured artist this month at the La Grange Art League, feels that much of her life has been a fulfilling journey in the world of art. She’s loved to draw ever since she was a little girl, but the big turning point came through the help of a convict at Fort Levenworth. Holly’s father was the assistant engineer at the prison, and the family lived within its walls. One day, he spoke about his daughter’s talent to a very famous counterfeiter who was serving time there. The man suggested that he would be interested in seeing her work. It finally turned out that her father became an intermediary between the two. She would send him her work, which he would critique and even suggest books that she should read and study. She never actually met her teacher, but she has been eternally grateful for his help and interest. What a way to start one’s art education!
Over the years, Holly has continued her education through classes and work shops. She has expanded into many other mediums, sculpture, water color, oils, colored pencil, silk painting. In the 70’s and 80’s she participated in shows and demonstrations but had to quit for family reasons.
Now, from August 3rd to the 28th, her work will be showing at the La Grange Art League Gallery. There will be examples of her work in the many fields she has explored over the years. A reception will be held at the gallery on Sunday August 9th from 2-5pm. Refreshments will be served. So come see her exhibit FOLLOW THE JOURNEY.