Art of the Land Benefit

-Sponsored Post-

Artists Help Nonprofit Preserve Local Landscape

Take the Metra Northwest Line to the last stop in downtown Harvard, Illinois, and one will find much more than the small farm community best known for its Milk Days Festival and a vacant Motorola plant.

Just two blocks from the train station is the Starline Art Gallery and Studios, home to established and emerging artists from the northwest Chicago Metro region. Many of the artists with studios in this restored, 100 year-old brick and wood-beamed manufacturing plant choose to live in this rural area of the region because of the remarkable natural beauty found there.

This shared interest in art and the local land led several of the resident artists to create a Benefit Art Show in 2009 to help raise money for The Land Conservancy of McHenry County (TLC), the local nonprofit land conservation organization working with private landowners to preserve the rural character and natural beauty that draws so many creative people to the area.

“The concept behind the show is to bring together talented artists who live and work in the McHenry County area because of the natural beauty found here,” said artist and Art of the Land founder Renee Dankert of Alden. “The artists who are invited to participate love the beauty of the area, and that love is somehow reflected in their work, whether they are working with fabric, glass, or paint, and whether their creations are naturalistic or abstract.”

Tickets to the September 24-25 event are $20 in advance and $30 at the door Saturday night. Tickets are good for both nights. The Gallery opens to the public on Friday from 6:30-9:30pm. Thirty-four artists and artisans from northeast Illinois will have their work on display and for sale at the gallery. Thirty percent of all sales will go to support The Land Conservancy of McHenry County’s land preservation work.

While the artists are inspired by the local land, don’t expect to find traditional landscape paintings at the show. Art work will range from handmade kites, to naturalistic oil paintings and pastel drawings, to photographic interpretations of natural forms. Renowned fabric artist, Jane Sassaman, will have some new works on display and blacksmith Michael Migala will have several hand-forged pieces in the show.

Among the participating artists for the 2010 Art of the Land show are:

- Jane Sassaman, noted textile artist from Harvard. www.janesassaman.com/home.html

- Michael Migala, blacksmith from Walworth Wisconsin. www.migalametals.com; and

- Mary Mariutto of Crystal Lake, whose Celtic roots are explored through her work with oil paint www.marymariutto.com

- Travis Linville, photographer from Elgin who explores ruralistic and scientific aspects of the land and natural forms through his unique photographic work. www.travisbrianlinville.com

In addition to the fine art show, the event features a display of photos taken in 2010 by amateur photographers at many of the properties that TLC has preserved. “The diversity and beauty of these photographs is a direct reflection of the land that will remain undeveloped forever through TLC’s work,” said TLC executive director Lisa Haderlein.

Friday evening features a program called “Voices of the Land” that includes short videos, poetry, music and stories about the land from local people. The atmosphere will be that of a coffeehouse with coffee, tea, and cookies provided for those visiting.

On Saturday, September 25 from 6:30-10pm, The Land Conservancy will hold a benefit with wine, hors d’oeuvers, silent auction and music to celebrate the beauty of the art work and the local land.

TLC is a nonprofit organization that works with private landowners to preserve scenic, natural and agricultural lands in McHenry County. The group has worked with nearly 60 landowners to preserve over 1800 acres across McHenry County. TLC’s work is funded by local members, charitable foundations and fundraising events such as Art of the Land.

Additional information about TLC and the Art of the Land Benefit Art Show can be found at www.conservemc.org or by calling 815-337-9502.

For those taking the Metra Northwest UPRR line train to Harvard, there are trains arriving at 5:20 and 7:20pm, and a train departing back towards Chicago at 9:35.