Oak Park Oak Leaves - A Pioneer Press Publication

August 20, 2008                                                    

 Oak Park gallery going to the dogs

To Oak Parker Lisa Nordstrom, a "junk drawer" is filled with marvelous materials for a work of art.

A specialist in "assemblage art," her muse thrives among bits of this and bits of that. Most recently, she gathered items about dogs to create canine shadow boxes. Nordstrom is the owner of the Art Gecko gallery in Oak Park, which is presently celebrating the "dog days of summer." A mixed media exhibit, "To The Dogs" displays works from Nordstrom, Jeanne Friedell, Nan Garside, Elizabeth Gaylord, Kati Gilson and Beth Granton.

Artistic homage to all things canine includes large acrylic paintings, shadow box creations, jewelry and photography. The exhibit is open to the public Thursdays through Sundays until Sept. 14. All of the works are available for purchase.

Dog days

"I just love dogs, and was inspired to do this exhibit by the loss of my own dog, a beautiful 14-year-old golden retriever named Amigo," said Nordstrom. "Most of my works are three-dimensional, using vintage and recycled items to create the art. I use junk drawer jewelry, old game pieces, bingo markers, pictures, newspaper, you name it."

The words "reuse, reduce, recycle, reclaim, redo, rework, renew, and re-purpose," appear under the shop name on the Art Gecko Ltd. Web site, www.artgeckoltd.com. The same words are repeated, thus proving the declaration.

"I like to play with words, and I love to use text in my work a lot," Nordstrom said. "My gallery name -- Art Gecko -- is an example of this, too. And for the Trattoria225 restaurant in Oak Park, I used a big Scrabble board to spell out 'Spice of Life' with items listed as words."

Nordstrom is inspired by anything and everything, from everyday items to things she hears or observes.

"Weird little snippets from song lyrics and movies, old cliches, all can be used as a starting point for art," she said.

Early recycling

Asked if her "reuse, recycle" mantra stems from avid environmentalism, Nordstrom says:

"No, not really. Growing up, we didn't have (money to buy art) supplies, so since I was a child I've made art from anything I could get my hands on," she said. "I gather all my materials, and literally sit at a table, playing, until something comes to mind."

Nordstrom cites one influence as her grade school art teacher, Miss Fritz, at the Barnard School in Chicago:
 

"She encouraged different thinking, encouraged what I made," she said.

Despite her early start and talent in art, Nordstrom pursued a career in film post-production. She studied film-making at Columbia College, and worked in the field for 15 years.

But Nordstrom was drawn back into doing her art and, in 1998, received an award at her first juried art fair. It was then that she decided to become a full-time artist.
 

I'm a tactile person and I need to work with my hands," she said. "And the more digital everything started to become, the more I wanted to do assemblage art. I can't quite explain it, but I have to do it."

                                                                                                                                          - Lilli Kuzma

 Chicago Tribune
January 19, 2008

ONE FINE DAY

My pet theory -- one I can't support, but a pet theory nonetheless -- is that the burgeoning Harrison Street Arts District in Oak Park will someday tip its hat to the Groovy Beatle, George Harrison. Regardless, it's a wonderful, wonderwall place to spend One Fine Day in an artsy way.

Morning

At Bead In Hand (145 Harrison St., 708-848-1761), you'll catch shoppers at all hours searching for just the right bauble to adorn that handmade bracelet. The shop offers lessons for all skill levels at $40 and less. Roughly a dozen art galleries line the eight-plus blocks of the Harrison Street strip, including outsider art haven Art Gecko (19 Harrison St., 708-358-1950) and primitive-to-fine showcase Just One More ... (203 Harrison St., 708-848-4398). If all that stimuli has you feeling fleet of foot, stop by Diane VanDerhei's Intuit Dance (237 Harrison St., 708-524-0500) -- a creative dance mecca for kids and young adults that will feature open studio days 10 a.m.-noon Monday, Feb. 18 and March 3 (in conjunction with Bead in Hand).

Afternoon

I don't comprehend half the paintings festooning the Buzz Cafe (905 S. Lombard Ave., 708-524-2899), which makes me either a snob or a slob. A jumbo redo of Vanity Fair's Harry Potter issue cover? A slightly psychedelic rendering of Wrigley Field? Regardless: The java is killer, and brunch packs 'em in as the wait staff dispenses French toast and tofu veggie wraps. After the Buzz, it's around the corner to the Brown Elephant (217 Harrison St., 708-445-0612). I could spend hours browsing amid the sweaters, sport coats, odd gadgets and furniture -- all priced way below reasonable. On this trip, I missed landing a Black & Decker Workmate bench by seconds. Rats. If you still need to work off those brunch calories, there's no finer place than Val's Halla Records (239 Harrison St., 708-524-1004). The new-and-used music shop -- yes, vinyl is spoken here -- has been an Oak Park fixture since 1972, and its new location means easier access to other arts outlets. And pizza.

Evening

Trattoria 225 (225 Harrison St.; 708-358-8555) marks a sorely needed new dining entry in the area, and its selection of rustic Italian dishes adds continental flair to the strip. Check out the thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas -- oak wood, Oak Park, how fitting -- from the white clam to the big cheese (mozzarella, provolone, Gorgonzola and Romano). You can always make your own, too, choosing from up to two dozen toppings. And what do you know? A block west sits Wonderwall Music Shop & Emporium (329B Harrison St., 708-754-7026). With its hand-painted tambourines, belly dance adornments and "Beatles thingys," it's just the spot to put the Harrison in Harrison Street. Fab!
                                                          -Louis R. Carlozo
Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune

Roll Out

the Rain Barrels!

Beginning on Earth Day April 22, 2009, fifteen rain barrels sponsored by Oak Park Arts District businesses were on display (and in use!) up and down Harrison Street.

The Roll Out the Rain Barrels program was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Park and River Forest, the Village of Oak Park, the Village of River Forest, and the Wednesday Journal and endorsed by the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation, the Oak Park Area Arts Council, and the Oak Park Energy and Environment Commission.

The rain barrels were on display throughout Oak Park and River Forest throughout the summer. Most of them were sold at auction in the fall, with proceeds going to various charities and organizations.

 
Chicago Tribune

We looked a little closer and found 25 people and places not seen by the uncool eye.

Cool is elusive. Sure, you can look it up in Webster's, but that would instantly mark you as uncool because dictionaries aren't cool. Besides, you should know it when you see it. Common is cool. Busta Rhymes isn't. Steve McQueen is cool. James Dean isn't. Denzel Washington is cool. Samuel L. Jackson isn't. See what we mean? No? Try this: Cool is usually where you aren't because, by the time mere mortals hear about it, cool has moved on. Until now. Here are 25 local entertainment people and places that are cool, for a host of reasons. Might be reliable excellence, great music or horn-rimmed hipsters. So. Have at it. 

                                                                           -Louis R. Carlozo

 Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune

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