Art League unpacks its treasures

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"Through the Woods," Charles Krafft, ca. 1920s, is part of the Oak Park Art League's permanent collection.

‘A Special Exhibition of the
Permanent Collection of the Oak Park Art League’

Oak Park Public Library Gallery, 834 Lake St., Oak Park

Through Jan. 30

‘Anything Goes’

Oak Park Art League, 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park

Gallery hours are 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 1-4 p.m. Saturdays, through Feb. 3

More information on both shows, and the Art League at (708) 386-9853 or www.opal-art.com.

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Updated: January 24, 2012 8:58PM

To celebrate 90 years of supporting the visual arts, Oak Park Art League puts its permanent collection in the spotlight with “A Special Exhibition of the Permanent Collection of the Oak Park Art League” at the Oak Park Public Library Gallery through Jan. 30.

“We felt that the best pieces to show were pieces from our permanent collection,” said Oak Park Art League Executive Director Faith Humphrey-Hill. “Typically they’re in archival storage so they’re nice and safe and protected, but what good is art in a box? It needs to be shared and viewed and appreciated. So we are always thrilled when we can pull them out of the box and share them with people.”

The entire permanent collection includes 40 donated pieces dating back to 1912 that were chosen by the League’s Standards Committee, and representa about three-fourths of the collection.

Sharing the wealth

“We wanted people to see a nice variety of work,” said Humphrey-Hill. “Being able to exhibit at the library gave us the unique opportunity to show a large selection of those pieces and share them with the public.”

Among the pieces, some highlights include well-known artists who were active in the group and important to its history, such as Charles Dahlgreen, James Eccles, Art Coplin and Oak Park Art League Founder, Carl Krafft.

“In their periods they were very famous and so it’s kind of a little snapshot of Midwestern art history,” she said.

Krafft’s work is not only particularly interesting because of his important role in the group’s history. Humphrey-Hill explains his pieces are unique. Krafft painted on wood, and that same piece of wood becomes an interesting frame for the work, with an arched top.

In addition to the library show, the league is holding another exhibit sharing current members’ work titled, “Anything Goes!” The show includes 95 pieces and runs through Feb. 3 in their own gallery space.

Ken Reis of Berwyn, president of the League’s board of directors, began painting as a child and has a large oil painting of B.B. King on display in “Anything Goes!” As an artist, he finds the permanent collection exhibit inspirational.

“It’s great to see what had come through the art league in the past,” said Reis. “You can see a lot of the newer stuff right now in the exhibits, but it’s really great to see what the past artists have done. A lot of these artists still have relatives in the area and they can come and see the work and it’s quite a thrill for them too.”

Moving ahead

Reis hopes people will see this show to continue increasing interest, involvement and membership. Both Reis and Humphrey-Hill credit the group effort of the league with keeping the group alive and fresh.

The Oak Park Art League, though it’s an Oak Park institution, welcomes kids and adults of all experience levels from anywhere.

“We call it an art family because it’s a very supportive environment,” Humphrey-Hill said. “It’s also wonderful here because we support the entire creative process from just starting out and learning the basics of drawing, to doing figure drawing. Then of course, (to) learning how to exhibit their work. So, it’s nice. It’s the whole gamut.”

The group offers lectures, classes for all ages, drop-in programs, private lessons and art critiques. Of course, various exhibits are set up throughout the year as well. All of which set out to support freedom of expression and strong creative voices. Humphrey-Hill describes the league as a nurturing environment where members can learn and share ideas.

“I’m just really excited about the art league because it’s reached 90 years, we’re very healthy and we’re doing well,” said Humphrey-Hill. “It’s so great to see how supportive artists are of each other and how giving they are. A piece of art is a little piece of yourself, so all of these artists give themselves to the organization to help it grow and develop. To see all these pieces up in one room, it’s pretty amazing.”