NCI ARTworks in Peru is marking a special occasion with an exhibition on October 25th, celebrating those who’ve made significant contributions to the arts community. This event acknowledges the dedication of board members, staff, and volunteers over the past 13 years. Artists such as Frank Kobilsek, Julie Jenkins, and Paula Guttilla will have their works featured. The exhibition, open to the public without charge, will take place in the historic Westclox Building from 6 to 8 PM, offering a unique glimpse into the vibrant local art scene.
Frank Kobilsek served on the Board of NCI ARTworks for many years. He has a long history as a wood turner and carver, making bowls, platters, bottle openers, bottle stoppers, and inlaid charcuterie boards. His current body of work features 3D wall sculpture often inspired by jewelry. Where a jeweler might set a stone in a textured field of metal, Frank will inlay a colorful piece of wood or resin in a turned and carved field of wood. He is retired and exhibits at art shows throughout the Midwest.
Julie Jenkins was born and raised in rural Ottawa, Illinois, and is the co-founder North Central Illinois ARTworks. She studied art through high school, and then went on to IVCC for her A.A. in Art. Julie continued her education at SIU in Carbondale, where she received a B.S. in Art Education and later completed her M.A. in Art Education at Eastern Illinois University. Currently, she resides in Peru, Illinois, with her husband and teaches high school art at LaSalle-Peru Township High School. She is a member of the Illinois Art Education Association and has exhibited throughout the region. Her work is comprised of an ongoing study of culture, architecture and natural surroundings. In these pieces, she explores the use of watercolor, soft pastels, and mixed media. She bases her artwork on her photographs and experiences from her various travels. The current body of work is from her travels to Mexico, France, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
Paula Guttilla’s passion for photography started when she received her first camera at the age of 10. She is a founding member and currently serves as treasurer of NCI ARTworks. Her photographs grace the walls of homes and businesses throughout the country and have been published in numerous books and magazines, including National Geographic and the Smithsonian Magazine. She has won many prestigious awards. Now retired and enjoying family time, she travels and photographs the inspiring nature that surrounds her wherever she goes.
Lorena Malm is a self-taught artist whose abstract work has been featured in prestigious art publications in the USA. While her main focus has been abstract work, she has expanded her artistic inventory by integrating digital art into her repertoire, creating a world of whimsical and pensive images. Malm creates images from her life experiences, memories, and sometimes from her dreams, embedding emotions into the art in order to create a connection with the viewer. Malm is currently the NCI ARTworks Gallery Operations Manager.
Emily Maze is a professional artist who lends a hand as a gallery assistant at NCI ARTworks when her busy schedule permits. She is a member of the Westclox Studio mural team that is responsible for major public art installations in the Illinois Valley, including the Mendota Union Depot mural, the Seneca “Find Your Connection” mural, and the Streator Heritage Park mural. She also works with acclaimed mosaic artist Susan Burton, teaches classes at NCI ARTworks, and has exhibited at various art shows in the region.
Francie Skoflanc is a graduate of Illinois State University with her BA in Art. She has been in the graphic design industry since 1976 and served as Graphic Design Technology Director at IVCC for many years. She is a founding member of NCI ARTworks and is currently the co-owner of a delightfully eclectic wine bar called Cat’sEye and its neighboring art collective and unique gift shop called A Mess of Things in Ottawa, Illinois. Skoflanc has been published and has won numerous awards.
Penny Boedigheimer is the Assistant Operations Manager at NCI ARTworks, whose work includes hard, dramatic pieces inspired by her former career as a law enforcement officer as well as softer, gentler pieces reflecting the nuanced reality of her formally trained artistic character and skill set. She received her formal fine arts training at Northern Illinois University and has exhibited in various galleries in the Midwest.
Mary Janusick is a founding member of NCI ARTworks. She is formally trained and currently offers art classes at The Paint Box Studio in the Westclox Building. Mary was instrumental in creating many important art events in the Illinois Valley, including the LaSalle Art Walk, the Trashion Show, and has been one of the key advocates for expanding access to all aspects of art through her volunteer work at the annual Mad Hatter Ball, which raises funds for operations and public arts installations throughout the Illinois Valley.
NCI ARTworks is a regional arts agency, a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and expanding the arts community in LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties through artistic collaboration, educational outreach, and art space development. Its mission also is to create venues that support public and private education, community events, economic development, and cultural tourism. ARTworks’ vision is to foster communication between artists, arts organizations, and arts educators. NCI ARTworks is located in the Westclox ARTworks Center in the west wing of the Westclox building in Peru. The organization is supported, in part, by the Illinois Arts Council Agency. For more information, visit www.nciartworks.com.
