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.
Threads of Imagination Exhibit Events
The next event on the horizon is the Grand Opening and Reception for "Threads of Imagination," the exhibit at RHS that explores art and fashion through the creativity of five Ridge artists. See the attached flier.
Alla Ripley Bannister was a famous "modiste" who designed and created fashions for women in the early 1900s. Alla lived in Beverly in the Craftsman-style house built by her husband, architect George S. Bannister, at 1620 West 102nd Street. (Bannister is also famous for being the architect of the "Rotary House" at 10856 S. Longwood Drive.) Alla Ripley's great-niece has shared a number of family photos with us, including photos of the house when it was first built.
Alla was called "the maker of modes" and "the very last word in style" during her years as Madame Ripley. Her studio was on Michigan Ave., just down the street from the Art Institute. She dictated fashion styles through the bulletins she authored as president of the Fashion Art League of America. It was said that her fashions were "marked by a grace of line that suggests a Parish original." Some of her designs from publications of her day are shown in the exhibit.
Four contemporary Ridge artists are also in the exhibit. Judie Anderson, Maggie O'Reilly, Nicole Burns and Sandra Leonard all have unique approaches to "fashion art" and plan to be at the Grand Opening. This is your chance to stop by to meet them.
The big day is almost here! Wednesday evening is the Grand Opening and Reception for the "Threads of Imagination" exhibit. We keep adding new details to the exhibit and there is much to see there!
Four very talented contemporary artists who live and create on the Ridge have works on display.
Judie Anderson is showing fashion illustrations from her time working with the Chicago American newspaper in the 1960s. Not only is her work superb, as always, but it is also a nice review of fashions of that time.
Sandra Leonard is known for her creative costumes that turn the human body into works of sculpture. On display is a piece she did for an event at Steppenwolf Theater based on Marie Antoinette. This is the first time this piece has been displayed and we are honored to show it.
Maggie O'Reilly is showing items from her two collections – Maggy May clothes for girls and the MAYTA collection. Maggie has free trade arrangements with artisans in Peru and Morocco to create items for the U.S. market. The workers are treated ethically and fairly. The textiles they work with are amazing.
Nicole Burns, better known as Ni Bu Design, has an eclectic collection of items inspired by her love for vintage fabrics and designs. Nicole takes every day items and fabrics and recycles them into new art forms. She has also lent to RHS some of her collection of vintage sewing items for a special display.
All of the artists are scheduled to be at the Grand Opening so please stop by to meet them and discuss their work!
The reception is free to the public and refreshments and wine will be served. No reservations needed – just show up!
The "Threads of Imagination" exhibit team. Standing from left to right: Artist Judie Anderson, RHS Historian and exhibit designer Linda Lamberty, Artist Nicole Burns, Artist Sandra Leonard and Artist Maggie O'Reilly. Seated: RHS researcher/writer and Curator of exhibit Carol Flynn. We thank everyone who came to the Grand Opening and Reception last night. The exhibit will be up until mid-January 2020. Contact RHS for open hours – ridgehistory@hotmail.com or 773/881-1675.
OK, the new program for Sunday, November 17 has been finalized. "Vintage Threads to Today" will feature two of the artists in the current "Threads of Imagination" exhibit.
Judie Anderson will share her 1960s-era work as a fashion illustrator and Nicole Burns (Ni Bu Design) will share her contemporary work. Nicole will be the model for Judie to draw a fashion illustration, which a member of the audience will win to take home (after it is scanned for the sake of history!). Both artists will have items for sale.
The program will be at RHS, 10621 S. Seeley Ave., from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The suggested donation for the program is $10 per person. Reservations are suggested – contact RHS at 773/881-1675 or ridgehistory@hotmail.com.
The Ridge Historical Society is hosting a special program this coming Sunday, November 17, 2019, at 2:00 p.m., as part of the current "Threads of Imagination" exhibit. In "Vintage Threads to Today," two of the local artists participating in the exhibit will partner to share their stories and talents with the audience.
Judie Anderson will discuss her early position in fashion illustration at Chicago's American newspaper, and share original examples of her work. Prints of some of the illustrations will be for sale.
Nicole Burns of Ni Bu Design will also discuss her creative process. Nicole creates eclectic art pieces based on vintage fabrics and designs. Her work will be displayed and for sale.
Nicole, wearing one of her creations, will then serve as model for Judie to draw a fashion illustration. A member of the audience will get to take home the drawing, after it is scanned for the historical record.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the "Threads of Imagination" exhibit which is now showing at RHS. This looks at fashion as art through the works of five Beverly artists: the historic Alla Ripley Bannister, a famous fashion designer from the early 1900s, and four current artists. In addition to Judie and Nicole are Sandra Leonard, who creates costumes to turn the human figure into sculpture; and Maggie O'Reilly, who has two businesses – Maggy May girls clothing, and the MAYTA collection which features items handcrafted through fair trade agreements with artisans in Peru and Morocco.
The suggested donation for the event is $10 per person. Refreshments will be served. Reservations are suggested just to let RHS plan ahead. Call RHS at 773/881-1675 or email to ridgehistory@hotmail.com. RHS is located at 10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago.
Attached: The flier for the program, samples of Judie Anderson's work, and a close-up of Nicole's exhibit.
The Ridge Historical Society will be wrapping up the Threads of Imagination exhibit with two more great programs featuring our guest artists. Please see the accompanying flier for preliminary details – save the dates – mark your calendars now! And watch our Facebook page for more information.
On Sunday, Dec. 29, Maggie O'Reilly will discuss her amazing MAYTA Collection and fair trade agreements. We know there are scheduling conflicts over the holidays, but there will be a special guest from Peru in town that week that we want to be sure to meet at RHS.
On Friday, Jan. 17, we will have the closing reception for the exhibit. Artist Sandra Leonard and her "sculptural costumes" will be featured. This is sure to be a very "artsy" event to enjoy! This will be the official end of the exhibit.
We're keeping our fingers crossed that the weather holds out for both days.
This is one of the most important events of the year – learning about "fair trade" through the efforts of one of our own community members, Maggie O'Reilly and her business The MAYTA Collection. Maggie is a native of the Ridge and is now raising her own family here. She loves travel and other cultures and textiles and color – all of this came together with working with the artisans of Peru and Morocco to produce highest quality personal and home accessories. The goods are truly unbelievable in beauty and quality, and very importantly, are produced with the highest standards of ethical business practices.
Join us at the Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, this coming Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. for "Fair Trade Threads." There will be a special guest from Peru. Refreshments will be served. Suggested donation of $10. Message RHS through Facebook with any questions.
PS – That's Maggie herself posing with one of the beautiful bags sold through MAYTA.
REMINDER!! This is not your typical holiday program. While a good dose of "mindless merriment" is certainly welcomed this time of year, the Ridge Historical Society is also offering the opportunity to keep your intellectual muscles in shape with an interesting and informative program.
"Fair Trade Threads" is a special program that will be given by Beverly artist and entrepreneur Maggie O'Reilly at RHS on Sunday, December 29, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.
As part of the "Threads of Imagination" exhibit, Maggie will share the story of her business, the MAYTA Collection, the provider of beautiful, high-quality hand-made personal fashion and home accessories. These goods are created with native materials by artisans in Peru and Morocco through "fair trade" agreements. "Fair trade" principles include decent wages and working conditions for the artisans, sustainability of their native environment, and ethical production methods. MAYTA is a member of Chicago Fair Trade, the largest fair trade coalition in the U.S.
A special guest from Peru, Vidal Gomez Pando, is visiting Chicago for the holidays and will speak at the event. He will discuss the Quechua, the native artisans who live in the Peruvian Andes Mountains and South American highlands, who create these fine goods.
Items from The MAYTA Collection will be on display and available for purchase.
Refreshments will be served. There is a suggested donation of $10 for the event. RHS is located at 10621 S. Seeley Ave., in Chicago. Send a message through the RHS Facebook page or to cflynn2013@yahoo.com with any questions.
This will also be an opportunity to view the "Threads of Imagination" exhibit, which closes in two weeks. This exhibit explores the intersection of fashion, art and business through the creative work and careers of five woman artists of the Ridge – the historic Madame Alla Ripley, a famous fashion designer and businesswoman who lived in Beverly in the early 1900s, and four contemporary artists – Maggie O’Reilly, Judie Anderson, Sandra Leonard and Nicole Burns.
A wonderful presentation was given today at RHS by Maggie O'Reilly on "Fair Trade Threads." Maggie is the owner of The MAYTA Collection, which offers one-of-a-kind hand-crafted artisan items from Peru and Morocco.
Maggie grew up in Beverly and she and her husband are now raising their own family here. Her business grew out of her love for travel and other cultures, particularly Latin cultures, and her love of fabrics, color and textures. The MAYTA Collection follows fair trade practices when dealing with the artisans of these other countries – fair wages, safe working conditions, contributions to their communities, and other ethical practices.
Maggie was joined by her father-in-law, Vidal Gomez Pando, who is visiting for the holidays from Peru. She shared interesting photos of the artisans at work at their homes in the Andes Mountains. They do all the work locally – sheer the sheep for the wool, spin it into yarn, color the yarn with natural dyes, and weave beautiful fabrics. The fabrics are used for the bags and purses, and pillows and blankets, that The MAYTA Collection brings to the U.S.
This program was part of the "Threads of Imagination" exhibit which explores the intersection of fashion, art and business. The exhibit will be up through January 17, 2020.
It’s been an incredible four months but they say all good things must come to an end. The closing reception for the “Threads of Imagination” exhibit at the Ridge Historical Society will be on Friday, January 17, 2020, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at RHS, 10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago.
The event is titled “Final Threads with Sandra Leonard.” Sandra creates sculptural costumes that turn the human form into living sculpture. Performance artists arrayed in some of Sandra’s creations will interact with the guests. Sandra’s work appears internationally in performance art productions, improvised theater, alternative fashion shows and installation projects.
This will be the last chance to view the “Threads of Imagination” exhibit, a look at the intersection of fashion, art and business through the creative work of five Beverly artists. Featured are the historic Madame Alla Ripley, a famous fashion designer and savvy businesswoman who lived on the Ridge 100 years ago, and four current artists.
Judie Anderson displays a selection of her fashion illustrations from the 1960s-70s. Nicole Burns of NiBu Design shares her eclectic artwork inspired by vintage fabrics, and her collection of antique sewing items. Maggie O’Reilly showcases items from her two entrepreneurial companies – Maggy May line of girls’ clothing, and The MAYTA Collection of personal and home accessories produced by artisans in Peru and Morocco through fair trade agreements. These three artists have been profiled in recent programs and plan to be at the reception. And the fourth artist, Sandra Leonard, will be profiled this evening.
Admission is free; refreshments will be served. Reservations are requested but not required. Contact RHS at 773/881-1675 or ridgehistory@hotmail.com.