Announcements

"Always Fun...the Art of Maggie Scharz Kraus"

Waukegan artist will display unique artwork at Undercroft Gallery 

WAUKEGAN — Waukegan artist Margaret “Maggie” Schwarz Kraus will present her one-woman show, “Always Fun ... the Art of Maggie Schwarz Kraus,” May 6 through June 26 at the Undercroft Gallery, lower level of the Christ Episcopal Church, 410 Grand Ave. An artist’s reception will be held May 25 from 1 to 4 p.m., and a directors’ reception will be held June 22 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Kraus has always used color and imagination to keep her work lively, and her popular paintings grace many walls in Waukegan and beyond. Less known are the silk scarves she has painted, the handbags she has made and the many odd bits of artistic expression that fill her home. This unusual exhibit samples this full range of Kraus’ art.

News-Sun staff report May 2, 2013 7:46PM

Lake County Council for Senions Honoree

Lake County Council for Seniors Honores Preston Helgren

    

On Tuesday, May 7th, Preston Helgren was one of 13 Lake County Seniors honored at the 31st Annual Senior Volunteer Recognition luncheon, sponsored by the Lake County Council for Seniors (LCCS). 

Preston was nominated by ElderCare@ChristChurch, where he has been a volunteer for 10 years. During that time he has provided 259 round trips to 108 seniors for medical appointments. In addition to his ElderCare commitments, Preston has served as an assistant treasurer for Christ Church and is an active member of the Men's ChristCare group. A long time member of the grounds and gardening committee, Preston created and maintains the naturalized native garden in front of the parish house. Preston can often be found around the campus pulling weeds, picking up trash, and basically making sure the church grounds look presentable. 

LCCS has been the "Voice of Lake County Seniors" since 1973! It is an advocacy organization that emphasizes senior programs and issues. For more information about LCCS visit lakecountyseniors.org. All LCCS honorees are seniors (over 65) who live and volunteer in Lake County, Illinois. 

Relay for Life -- June 22-23 -- Bevier Park, Waukegan

Relay for Life
of Greater Waukegan & Far North Shore

Undercroft Gallery - Mary Neely Exhibit

“Through my lens … the art of Mary Neely,”
Undercroft Gallery throughout July and August

Artist's Reception on Saturday July 20, 1:00-4:00 pm. Healthful refreshments will be served.

Mary Neely uses her camera to create fine art. Like most skilled photographers she takes lovely and often touching photographs of the magnificent world all around us, and that is the exciting realm of representative art. Mary’s inventive lens often yields pleasant surprises, however. “Many times I will see an abstraction within a realistic scene, and I try to capture those abstract visions and a sense of wonder in my photographs.” These become playful presentations of things we see every day but never stop to consider: the hammered edge of a steel sheet pile wall in Waukegan Harbor, rigid structural patterns under the Chicago elevated trains, dancing neon lights in the tunnel to O’Hare Terminal C. She explores reflections and shadows, or finds things dusted and scarred by time. Sometimes she crops and inverts these odd images to puzzle and engage us. Mary shows us how to find the world through our own special lenses. “There is beauty everywhere - sometimes all you need to do is look for it. "

Kenosha News reporter Bill Robbins once noted "Photographer Mary Neely has plenty of beautiful shots depicting flowers, birds, buildings, and trees in recognizable form.  She also has numerous-and equally gorgeous-shots of everyday objects that she captures in a visually abstract, and often scarcely recognizable, manner."

This exhibit is a mix of Mary’s representative and abstract photographic art, but she has also been asked to include some recent acrylic paintings. Chris Tanner, manger of the Undercroft Gallery, explains that “Mary is new to painting and her technique may be a little rough, but her special vision, curiosity and humor will be working their way to the canvas surface.  Like every serious artist, she is forever a work in progress, and that’s an exciting thing to witness.”

Currently vice-president of the Lake County Art League, Mary is also active as a member of the new Waukegan Arts Council, Kenosha’s Lemon Street Gallery, the Chicago Artists Coalition, the Robert Wright Gallery located at the College of Lake County, and the Deerpath Art League centered in Lake Forest. In addition to showing at these and other galleries in the Midwest, she has pieces in private collections in New York and Santa Fe, and has won many awards locally. Mary has given photography lectures for the Art Institute of Chicago's Auxiliary as well as to the Lake County Art League.

     


    

Faith & Film

Faith & Film
'Chariots of Fire"

Chariots of Fire is a 1981British historical drama film.  It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, a Jew who   runs to overcome prejudice.

This time we will try viewing the movie and having the discussion the same evening.  Refreshments (popcorn, candy, nuts, beverages, etc) are always served, but we will order a pizza because of the earlier start time, which is 6:00 PM.

Movie Viewing & Discussion
Wednesday, July 3 @ 6:00 pm
Colboth Home
9874 E Bairstow - Beach Park, IL