Winter got you down? Right about now, cabin fever is setting in big time in Chicago. We need to find fun, local, free things to do! And the Ridge Historical Society is coming to the rescue. On Friday, February 8, RHS will open its doors from 1 to 3 pm, and again from 7 to 9 pm, to welcome in everyone to view the current exhibit of the "Art of Ethel Wirtshafter."
Ethel was a beloved local artist whose signature works were batiks. Batik is an ancient method for dying fabric, where layers of beeswax are applied to the cloth and scraped off, allowing the dye to be absorbed.
Most batiks we know are from Indonesia and feature repetitive geometric designs. But Ethel used the fabric like a canvas and created scenes with people and objects.
I will post more about this during the coming week. Please come over to RHS, 10621 S. Seeley Ave., next Friday for the Open House! If you have ever been curious about the historical society, here is your opportunity to come inside this amazing place. The mission is to investigate and preserve the history of the Beverly Hills, Morgan Park, Washington Heights, and Mt. Greenwood neighborhoods of Chicago. And what a rich history we have! Membership is open to everyone and there are loads of volunteer opportunities to work with the collection, house and grounds, and programs and events,
I will be there and I hope to meet a lot of you that day.
– Carol Flynn, RHS Communications
Here are just two of Ethel's works, again, batiks, dye on cloth. The first is a cityscape on loan from a private collector, the second shows one of her favorite themes, Madonna and Child, and is on loan from the Vanderpoel Art Association, where Ethel taught art classes for 45 years.