The RHS Facebook page is a rich archive of history-related posts by Carol Flynn, RHS Facebook admin and writer until mid-2025. Carol prolifically wrote a wide variety of meticulously researched local history articles for RHS. She continues to write for the Beverly Review and other media sources with articles particularly focused on local Ridge history.
Art of Ethel Wirtshafter Exhibit
Thanks to the folks who visited the Ridge Historical Society today for our Open House and to view "The Art of Ethel Wirtshafter" exhibit. Despite the freezing cold below-zero temperatures, and I do mean COLD, at least 100 people came over. We even had someone bring over her Ethel Wirtshafter batik to add to the display – making for three additional pieces added this week.
One of the new pieces added this week is posted here. It is one of Ethel's signature batiks, created using the ancient fabric-dyeing technique. The word that comes to mind when you see it in person is "exquisite."
For those who missed today's event, the exhibit will run through February 24. Arrangements may be made to view the exhibit by contacting RHS at 773/881-1675, or ridgehistory@hotmail.com.
Reminder! Tomorrow, Friday, February 8, is the Open House at the Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley Ave. We will be welcoming all visitors from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The event is free and refreshments will be served. Please join us!
The special exhibit right now is “The Art of Ethel Wirtshafter.” More than 30 pieces by this beloved local artist and art teacher, who died in 2009 at the age of 99, are on display. Included are some paintings, but mostly Ethel’s signature work, batiks, created using the ancient technique for dyeing cloth.
The artwork is on loan from private collectors and from the Vanderpoel Art Association and the Beverly Arts Center. This exhibit offers an extraordinary opportunity to see so many of Ethel’s works in one location. Pictures of Ethel’s work on display are posted here, followed by a picture of the artist.
RHS is located in the Graver-Driscoll House, designed in 1921 by John Todd Hetherington, and part of the Longwood Drive Historic District. Our mission is to preserve and interpret the history of the local communities. Tomorrow’s Open House is an invitation to learn more about us. Membership is open to everyone and there are many opportunities for involvement. We hope you will stop by!
Being added to the Wirtshafter exhibit this week – another batik found all rolled up at a house, and is now part of my personal collection, and it will be on loan to RHS until Feb. 24. This would be from Ethel's "Madonna and Child" series, with a Southwest theme. The colors are amazing – very vibrant. Ethel mixed her own dyes for her work. See the exhibit, "The Art of Ethel Wirtshafter," at the Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley Ave., at the Open House on Friday, Feb. 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. All are welcomed, free of charge. Get to know your local historical society!
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.