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 "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.
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 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.