ARTIST INTRODUCTIONS (below) PROVIDED BY CHERLY HOLZ
DEANA BADA MALONEY
I saw an image of Deanna ‘s “King Solomon“ (Who also graces the front of our postcard!) through the Morton Arboretum Nature Artist Guild. Soon as I saw it, I thought who is making this???! I’ve got to meet them! We hit it off via email immediately (thanks to a rocky horror picture show reference) and sealed the deal with a 3-drink lunch on a Monday!🤣 So come and meet this smart and funny artist- and prepare to be wowed by her technical expertise and sense of humor! Her ceramic sculptures of animals are accurate but also have a bit of attitude. Many incorporate found objects, making a statement about how our Surfaces are even more sensual in person than in pictures. With a fun and joyful demeanor, and Deanna is one of my new favorite people! https://thebadacreative.com/
Victoria Belz of TINKER BELZ GLASS
Many of fans of the local art scene may be familiar with @tinkerbelzart_ glass work at Water Street Studios, but she has moved up in the world and now has a store on 3rd street in downtown Geneva, IL! In addition to creating intricate beautiful functional and decorative glass pieces, she also teaches out of her space, and I am now completely enamored with making glass beads! She is an EXCELLENT teacher (and as a former teacher I am a demanding student!). I highly recommend her classes if you’re at all interested in the glass making process (or like me have pyro tendencies!!) She will be joining us next Saturday evening with her wares and her signature flaming red hair!! I hope you’ll stop by to say hi and check out her beautiful works of art! https://www.tinkerbelzart.com
NATASHA LEHRER LEWIS
I met Natasha years ago when I was organizing the Aurora Artwalk (the precursor to our First Fridays), and she was in one of my venues with her felted creations. Since then, she helps run a farm called https://www.bigrockorganics.com that includes a herd of sheep whose wool is used in her creations!! She’s also one of the founders of Esther’s Place http://www.esthersplacefibers.com, a magical fiber arts studio, with classes, and hand dyed and locally grown fibers and kits for knitting, crocheting, spinning, felting and weaving. Come meet this impressive artist and entrepreneur and her creations on Saturday Nov. 4th from 5-9pm. We are excited to have her as a guest artist at this year's Open Studio!! She will be bringing her wearable fiber, sewn and dyed creations!
VIC VonEhr
Vic's technical ability with photography allows him to capture some stellar ranges of lights and reflection and minute detail. Tastefully framed and ready to hang, check out all he has prepared for this year's Open Studio! Anne Maravigilia of PLUMTREE STUDIOS
I knew Anne Maravigilia’s work before I met her! She is also a regular at Art in the Barn like me, and early one Sunday morning before the fair started, a friend and I fell in love with her ojizo, I believe they are called. They are small ceramic figures with an animal usually. We argued over who would get the one with the bird on her shoulder!
These are delightful little characters, each with their own personality. Her functional pottery has a decidedly Asian feel, with streamline shapes and clean surfaces. Reasonably priced, come and select one for yourself, or to gift to a loved one!
JEFF HART
Jeff is an Aurora native who created bowls and sculptures form reclaimed trees. Still waiting on images from Jeff, so you'll have to trust me that his works are beautiful!!