SPRING 2001

Executive Director's Report - Kathy Umlauf

Winifred Godfrey's Mayan Procession

Winifred Godfrey's Mayan Procession exhibit has ended at the Kimball Hill Homes and NWCC's galleries; but we have these photographs to share with you depicting some of the events that took place while this magnificent exhibit was on display.

The Mayan Procession exhibition integrated two of our important programs, the poetry writing and art sessions of "Kids Meet Art"™ and the Corporate Gallery Programs. "KMA"™ students from Plum Grove Junior High and Rolling Meadows High School came to the gallery, viewed the Procession and wrote poems about the piece that most impressed them. Then they designed a border for their poems using the Mayan numerical system. We displayed these beautiful works of student art along with 3 of Winnie's pieces from the Procession and some of Bill Goldman's textiles for the students' parents and families to view.

Several unexpected events occurred as a result of this exceptional exhibition.

The internet sent out the message to its network of US citizens that have adopted children from Guatemala. One afternoon the gallery was filled with strollers, babies and their moms. These new families were sharing photos, paintings and clothes representative of their heritage.

Closer to us, NWCC Board Member Ginny Combs has just become grandmother to her daughter's adopted Guatemalan baby, Lilly. The entire family visited the exhibit during the Christmas season.

The Mayaworks organization in Crystal Lake brings handmade textiles into the US for sale. 75% of the proceeds are returned to the weavers and needleworkers in Guatemala. At Winnie's slide presentation Mr. And Mrs. Davis filled my office with these gorgeous table runners, purses, eyeglass cases, wall hangings, and much more-all of which were for sale.

Winnie's portrayal of these proud and creative people has been an incredible experience for every person that viewed the show. We are deeply grateful to Winnie for sharing her documentation of a civilization in the throes of profound and irrevocable change.

Kathy Umlauf
Executive Director

Louis Jenkins Reads His Poetry
at the Kimball Hill Homes Gallery

Since becoming the Prose and Poetry editor of SPOTLIGHTS, Martin Ryan has been seeking outstanding works, by contemporary poets, to publish in our quarterly newsletter.

He envisioned the new Kimball Hill Home's gallery, filled with beautiful works of art, as an appropriate space for poetry readings. His good friend Larry Moats, also a long time NWCC Board Member, agreed to sponsor three poetry readings at the gallery.

The first of the readings took place on November 28, 2000. Louis Jenkins had been published in the Spring 2000 issue of SPOTLIGHTS. He agreed to leave frozen Minnesota for the slightly more benign climate of the Chicago area to read for our audience.

Ann Ryan, Martin's wife, prepared a delicious buffet dinner for our Board members, their guests and the poet, before the reading.

Kevin Brewner and Marg Duer of Fremd High School, and Susan Castella and Bill Leece of Rolling Meadows High School, encouraged their students to attend with them. Thanks to the efforts of these wonderful friends we had a "standing room only" crowd.

Sponsors, teachers, recipients of "Kids Meet Art"™, Board Members, poetry workshop members, our corporate gallery program, and the SPOTLIGHTS group, all played a role in the success of the evening.

KU

Don Torisky will be leaving us this Spring as President after four years in which he has led the Council forward to its present success. Given Don's many civic and corporate responsibilities, we were fortunate indeed to have had the benefit of his distinguished leadership for so long. Happily, his role on the Council is not ending since he will remain on the executive board and we will continue to benefit from his experience and advice.

Martin Ryan

Welcome NWCC's Sixth President                       Sherrie Kirmse

Sometimes the changing of the guard can be a happy occasion, an opportunity to look in both directions with satisfaction. The Northwest Cultural Council finds itself at this place as board members, staff, artists and supporters say, "Thanks, well done!" to Don Torisky, who is concluding his four-year tenure as president of the Council board.

In June the presidency of our organization will be ably filled by long-time supporter JoAnn Peterson, who will become the sixth and first female president of the NWCC. She will bring her considerable expertise as Director of Human Resources and corporate secretary of Kimball Hill, Inc. to the job.

JoAnn began volunteering for Council projects in 1992 and quickly became an indispensable member of our team. By 1994 she was serving as board secretary and in 1997 was elected treasurer, the post she currently holds.

Executive Director Kathy Umlauf has high praise for the new president's contributions to our program. As a board member she has applied her high professional standards to Council business and brought the organization into the computer era. Perhaps of even greater value is her hands-on approach, her willingness to become involved in the nitty-gritty work of any function where she can be of service. Kathy immediately calls to mind events such as the September Worldfest '93 at Omron and the 1998 Fine Art/Fine Craft Fair at Northwest Community Hospital, major venues at which JoAnn was on hand throughout, an integral part of keeping the event running smoothly.

Asked how her personal commitment to the arts was nurtured, JoAnn has only to think for a few seconds before replying, "Sister Francis." She tells of how an extraordinary fine arts teacher shaped her life by exposing her to the broad spectrum of the arts. Being a student of Sister Francis was a hands-on experience. When she taught sculpture, her students had to sculpt. When she taught theater, they had to act. And perhaps the nun's most important gift was being open-minded to all that the arts had to offer. "She taught us opera," JoAnn says, "but she was also willing to listen to our music." Now we are fortunate to be the beneficiaries of that gift.

Her association with the NWCC came about through Council benefactor, David Hill. It was he who introduced her to Kathy. He is widely known to be personally dedicated to community involvement and to the success of the Council and has always made it clear to his staff that he values their involvement in volunteer projects.

How does she see her tenure as it is about to begin? JoAnn has been thinking about that a lot. Not surprisingly for one who has already served on the Board for several years, she feels that financial concerns must be a priority. Growing the Council in a big way will require greatly increased corporate sponsorship and consistent fund raising programs. Expect long-term strategic planning on the agenda. The lady makes no small plans. Her ambitious wish list includes a building fund.

We all look forward to benefiting from JoAnn's leadership.

IN MEMORIAM

With the passing of Vince Lombardo, Clay Anderson, Laura Barov and now Bud Huber and Lois Coren we are saddened, both as individuals and as an organization.
Each of these artists offered a unique talent and personality; and we enjoyed their creativity. Each created a void no one else can fill.
KU

Emile (Bud) Huber
Longtime friend and past Board member Bud Huber passed away January 8, 2001. Bud was an early member of the Corporate Gallery Program, exhibiting his beautiful photographs at all the corporate sites, then becoming the co-chair of the program for two years. We could always count on him for help with our computers, his carpenter skills, and his always cheerful demeanor. Bud will be greatly missed.

Lois Coren
Lois Coren, a member of the Corporate Gallery program since 1998 passed away unexpectedly after surgery January 3, 2001. Lois was a fine artist whose sculpture had been on display during the summer of 2000 at Navy Pier in Chicago. Her interesting collages and constructions added an exciting dimension to NWCC's Corporate Gallery Program. Lois was always interested in exploring new ways to promote the work of all artists. She was an unselfish friend and mentor to many artists.