Artmakers North: Beyond the Surface

Start the new year with art! The Elmhurst Artists’ Guild (EAG) will host Beyond the Surface, an exhibition of artworks in a variety of media by twenty-two members of Artmakers North, a collective of mid-career, professional artists including those exhibiting in Beyond the Surface: Tobi Abrams, Adrienne Aaronson, Cosima Aryee, Marcia Babler, Sandie Bacon, Marlene Diamond, David Gista, Barbara Goldsmith, John Hatelstad, Judith Joseph, Bonnie Katz, Ruti Modlin, Melissa Pierson, Ann Rosen, Susan Ann Rusell, Lilach Schrag, Beth Shadur, Judy Lipman Shecther, Peggy Shearn, Mary Krebs Smythe, Mariko Ventura, and Gloria Zieve.

Artmakers North is an informal group made up mostly of mid-career artists with common interests who come together to share and talk about art. Creating art is usually an individual practice and can be isolating. When the creation is complete the task of finding a venue to exhibit can be daunting. These two issues inspired Ann Rosen, retired Executive Director of the Highland Park Art Center, to start Artmakers North. The artists meet once a month in various area art studios, galleries, and schools. At the meetings they share their approach to their work, introduce new media, demonstrate various techniques, discuss other artists’ work and explore the different methods that insure success when applying to art shows and galleries. The group has sponsored six exhibits of their own to date. Ann Rosen definitely touched upon a need. In 2-1⁄2 years over 100 artists, instructors, curators, and art directors have joined Artmakers North and have gained a great deal. The best of which is making good friendships. You can learn more about Artmakers North online at artmakersnorth.com.