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Arts & Entertainment

Art Exhibit Offers Colorful Ways to Think About "Words and Numbers"

A new exhibit at the Union Street Gallery had its reception Friday. "Words and Numbers" features work from artists of all kinds.

A kaleidoscopic burst of colors in several mediums welcomed guests who attended Friday's opening of the Words & Numbers art exhibit at the .

On the first floor of the gallery, two large panels of collages done by Flossmoor artist Jeff Stevenson brought you into a world of detailed expression. 

“I started out with 100 drawings in 100 days, (that) was the inspiration,” Stevenson explained. “If you look at each of the pieces, each one has a graphic drawing on a cardboard. Shortly into the 100-day project, I started making them into collages."

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Stevenson said he found the ideal palette in an odd place, a musical place.

"I decided to use record album covers as my substrate so they would be the same size and give unity to the pieces," Stevenson said. "It gave me a starting point for design and color then I intergraded the shapes that came out in the sketches."

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Unique and unusual pieces can be found at this exhibit, from a stark classroom photograph stating “So you want drama” done by photographer Samantha VanDeman to a visual Rubik’s Cube display titled "Structures of Possibility" designed by Ruth Bardenstein. 

Gallery administrator Jessica Freudenberg was happy with the opening reception's turnout.

“We have 40 artists from 20 states, everything came together wonderfully," Freudenberg said. "I really want to thank the local businesses that helped and also the donors who help keep this free to the public.”

Many of the artists attended the opening reception Friday, giving each other compliments on their work. One was Chicago Heights artist Pam Eberlin, who had a piece in the show titled "What Shall I Be Too?", made by vintage objects.

“This is my kind of work," Eberlin said. "If I could, I would take most of this work home and put it in my house. This is about my 6th juried show that I’ve done at Union Street Gallery. I currently have a piece at , where I have won best of show. People like my work, it’s been well-received."

While she stands behind her own work, Eberlin said she had her eye on another favorite piece in the exhibit.

"My favorite is Jeff Stevenson’s work, both of the panels," Eberlin said with a laugh. "I was trying to get him to give me a free sample. Sometimes artists trade."

The national juried exhibit continues until April 2. The exhibit is free and open to the public Wednesday through Saturday during normal gallery hours. For more information, call the gallery at 708-754-2601.

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