Nov. 20: Art opening at Chef Amaury's in downtown Aurora

Sunday, November 20 from 3 to 6 p.m. local artists Lisa Gloria and Brian Busch will open their exhibit "The Food Show" at Chef Amaury. Their artwork will be foodcentric. The work is nothing short of spectacular. Cheese and fruit will be served compliments of Chef Amaury. Cash bar available. Dinner service will be available after 5 p.m.

Chef Amaury at 33 West is located at 33 W. New York St. across from Ballydoyle in downtown Aurora. Free street parking is available after 5 p.m., and free lot parking is located at the northwest corner of New York and River streets.

April 15: Japan Relief Show at 7 West Studio

Aurora - Clever! Shiny! Strange! Pretty! things from local artists will go toward Japan Relief this April and May.

7 West Studio in downtown Aurora is holding a show where selected works will be up for sale to benefit those affected by the recent disaster in Japan. Japan Relief items sold at the studio will help fund the efforts of American Red Cross to help earthquake victims in Japan.

7 West Studio's Japan Relief Show opens on Friday, April 15 and runs until the end of May. The public is invited to an opening night reception from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 15. Join the 7 West artists for an important night of art to support Japan Relief. Store hours are regularly 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

7 West Studio features original art, jewelry and gifts by your friends and neighbors in a lovely location along the river between Stolp Avenue and River Street.

Street parking is free during the opening reception and convenient parking is available in a parking garage at the corner of Stolp and Downer.

Visit www.7weststudio.com to shop the studio online.

NOW: Call for Aurora ArtWalk artists for June 3!

The Aurora ArtWalk is back! ArtWalk V will happen once again from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, June 3 in the area of Stolp Avenue and Downer Place in downtown Aurora.

New this year, venues will display different perspectives of art; art as seen through people’s relationship to society and the particular groups and/or philosophies with which they identify.

You’ll see art from all walks of society: freaks and geeks, classical and modern, religious and political, cultural and historic, sporty and sexual, offensive and appetizing, repulsive and engaging. Be prepared to experience humanity in all its forms.

Artists are invited to submit their art for consideration of inclusion in the ArtWalk. All types of art will be considered. Interested artists must apply online for the Aurora ArtWalk through the website at www.AuroraArtwalk.com and pay an entry fee of $20. If selected, artists will be paired with a fitting downtown venue in which to exhibit or perform. All artists accepted through this juried process must be able to deliver work and attend/perform for the duration of the ArtWalk, and are eligible for the award. Any and all ArtWalk artists are encouraged to offer work for sale.
Some artists will be invited, and others need to apply.

Those selected applicants will be eligible to win an “audience favorite award” through a monetized voting process. Attendees will purchase “votes.” Each artist will collect votes. Whoever collects the most votes wins an all new Traveling ArtWalk Award and becomes the ArtWalk ambassador for one term—until the next ArtWalk!

Artists in any medium are encouraged to apply. The ArtWalk is open, but not limited to: dancers, photographers, painters, performers, vocalists, poets, sculptors, spoken word artists, ceramicists, authors, installation artists, independent filmmakers, environmental artists, and musicians of all genres. All submissions are due by April 29, 2011. Artists will be notified by May 15, 2011.

The last four ArtWalks saw outstanding attendance with standing room only audiences bringing thousands of patrons and art lovers to downtown Aurora.

The Aurora ArtWalk is produced by the Cultural Creatives, a group of Aurora artists, patrons, business and property owners and engaged citizens with a common interest in encouraging an arts-friendly environment. For more information on the Aurora ArtWalk, visit AuroraArtwalk.com. Sponsorships for this event are currently available. For information on sponsorships, volunteer opportunities and questions related to the submission process, please e-mail : AuroraArtwalk@gmail.com.

April 9: Molded Heroes gallery show in downtown Aurora

What: Molded Heroes gallery art show in downtown Aurora will display prints for sale by more than 20 local and national artists.

When: Opening reception is 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 9. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 10.

Where: 75 S. LaSalle St. in downtown Aurora between Downer and Benton.

The show is the first of its kind in the area and brings artists from several states to hang poster art that focuses on toys from their youth – the plastic empire and beyond.

Sept. 29: Quad County Art Show & Anniversary Celebration

DATE: Wednesday, September 29, 2010

TIME: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

LOCATION: 1685 N. Farnsworth Ave /Aurora

Spoken Words at 7:30 p.m.

Contributions to support Quad County Urban League programs greatly appreciated.

Sept. 25: Art opening at the Paramount Theatre

Greta Bell is showcasing her paintings at Paramount Theatre's second floor gallery this fall. Join Bell at the opening reception on Sat., Sept. 25 from 7-9 p.m.

Meet the artists, enjoy artwork, conversation, and light appetizers.
Most artwork is for sale.

Paramount Theatre is located on Galena in downtown Aurora. Parking is plentiful on adjacent streets, public lots and two parking lots -- all within walking distance.

Make it a night out and visit Restaurant Row on New York Street!

Sept. 14 - Dec. 17: AU Schingoethe Gallery celebrates 20 years

“Just as Curious When It’s Sung,” an art exhibit by Katie Kahn, Chicago resident and Northern Illinois University associate professor of painting, will open a 20^th anniversary celebration by Aurora University’s Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures.

The free exhibit is open to the public Sept. 14 to Dec. 17 at the Schingoethe Gallery in Dunham Hall, 1400 Marseillaise Place in Aurora. The show will open Sept. 14 with a reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The reception will be followed by a lecture by the artist at 6:30 p.m.

According to Meg Bero, Schingoethe Center executive director, “In this show, Kahn explores a place of engagement between the personal, political and natural worlds in order to examine that interaction, and to discover wherein lies individual and communal responsibility.”

Kahn earned a master’s degree in fine arts from Yale University School of Art and a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from California College of Arts and Crafts. Additionally, she received a fellowship to Yale Norfolk Summer School of Music and Art and attended the University of Chicago.

Her grants and residencies include National Endowment for the Arts Individual Fellowship Grant; Roswell Artist-in-Residence Fellowship Program; Ucross Foundation; and Ragdale Foundation.