Nov. 29: Art Under Glass in Downtown Evanston

The energizing Art Under Glass program that showcases the work of Evanston artists in vacant storefront windows is returning to Downtown Evanston. The new exhibit opens Saturday, November 29, as part of the festivities surrounding Downtown Evanston’s holiday and tree-lighting celebration. A reception introducing the artists and their work will be held 3 p.m. in the lobby of the newly renovated The Merion at 1611 Chicago Avenue, Evanston.

After Mayor Tisdahl and project coordinators welcome attendees, the artists will offer a tour of their art. The exhibit will fill windows on the corner of Chicago Ave. and Davis St., the 1700 block of Orrington Ave., in Sherman Plaza on Sherman Ave, and a unique glass box on Davis, just east of Orrington. All but the Orrington stores are new venues for the project. The reception and tour are free and open to the public.

Participating local artists are Janet Austin, Raissa Bailey, Kristin Fippinger-Cahill, Dr. Lloyd Davidson, Doug Haight, Catherine Katona, Natasha Kohli, Didier Nolet, Harrison Parkes, Jack Weiss, and Jerry Woods. A variety of art forms, including painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media are featured.

The partners on this project were Penny Rotheiser, Co-chair of the Evanston Arts Council's Arts & Business Committee; Annie Coakley, Executive Director ofDowntown Evanston; and Fran Joy of the Evanston Arts Council. They were assisted by Jason Brown, the City of Evanston Cultural Arts Intern.

The team announced the exhibit opening by saying, “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase more Evanston artists on the streets of our city, and, at the same time, beautify the community and attract potential renters. “Art Under Glass” is another great reason to come downtown.”

This cycle, the sixth since Art Under Glass began in 2009, is a joint effort of the Evanston Arts Council’s Arts & Business Committee, Downtown Evanston, and the property managers who have opened their unoccupied storefronts: The Merion, Farnsworth-Hill Inc., Inland America, and Davis Street Land Company.