Exhibit- Collective Muse, Aurora Public Art Commission

A few highlights from last night reception at Aurora's Public Art Commission Gallery Space with the Midwest Collage Society .

Aurora – The Aurora Public Art Commission and the Midwest Collage Society are proud to present The Collective Muse, an exhibit featuring the work of 31 collage artists.

The Midwest Collage Society, a regional affiliate of the National Collage Society founded in 2003, promotes collage as fine art, exhibiting three or more times per year at galleries across the Chicago metropolitan area. 

The Midwest Collage Society boasts more than 60 members from Chicagoland and northwest Indiana, and includes both formally trained graduates and the self-taught. Styles range from traditional collage to mixed media and assemblage.  Artists use paper, paint, wood, fiber, metal, found objects, photographs and more.  The collective works of its members include figurative, representational and abstract art.

“When a group of artists with a common interest interact, nurture, support and educate one another, you’ll find ‘The Collective Muse,’” according to the artists’ statement. “Collage is so much more than paper and paste. Collage artists reuse and repurpose items often considered expendable. A cast-off item can provide the inspiration and focal point for award-winning artwork.”

Artists who will be exhibiting work include Nancy Castner, Nancy Staszak, June Fuerstenhaefer, Elaine Rath, Cherie Denton, Barb Boland, Mary Yezek, Pat Pope,  LuEllen Joy Giera, Melinda VanDril-Beer, Turkan Ildekmirci, Joan Lucht, Marge Boyd, Jerri Reimann, Tania Blanco, Margi Hafer, Donna Johnston, Maureen Gasek, Cindy Hughes, Gale C. Vance, Kathy Schoenauer, Dee De Schneider, Laura Lein-Svencner, Fabra DiPaolo, Margaret Swedzikowski, Rose Kostan-Schwartz, Meg Guttman, Teresa Cash, Karen Sako, Susan Sharp and Mary Alice DeRose.

An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 19, in the third floor gallery of the Aurora Public Art Commission, in the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, Aurora. Admission is free and light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available.

The Collective Muse, presented by the Aurora Public Art Commission and the Midwest Collage Society, will be on display until October 22, 2016, during regular gallery hours, noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, contact Rena Church at 630-256-3340.