Chicago Area Artists Unveil Reclaimed Works in Two-Person Exhibit at John Almquist Gallery

Reclaimed Realities is a two-person exhibit of sculptural installations and mixed media collages by Chicago natives Marci Rubin and Betsy van Die, respectively. Commonalities in their work include the reclamation and transformation of materials that are not typically associated with sculptural installations and mixed media collages. Many of their pieces embody a similar color palette – with red, pink and orange tones. Reclaimed Realities is on display at the John Almquist Gallery at North Shore County Day School in Winnetka from March 14 through May 9.

Both artists find beauty in decay or what some might consider ugly, transforming their subjects and materials in unique ways. While Rubin use the human form to convey deeper associations, van Die seeks to capture hidden beauty in the ephemeral, decaying urban landscape. Rubin currently utilizes reclaimed clothing as a material source since it directly implies the essence of the human body. Although the starting point in each of her pieces is a specific site she photographs, van Die melds as many as five of these photographs with relics retrieved from the site, acrylics, pastel, charcoal, and colored pencil. The found objects imbue her collages with a 3-dimensional quality.

WHO: Chicago Artists Marci Rubin and Betsy van Die

WHAT: Reclaimed Realities – Recycled 2-D and 3-D Mixed Media Pieces

WHEN: March 14 through May 9, 2014, Hours: Monday-Friday, 9-3 or by appointment. Weekday gallery visitors are required to check-in at Reception in the Upper School. Please note that the school and gallery are closed for spring break from March 24 through April 6.

WHERE: John Almquist Gallery, North Shore Country Day School, 310 Green Bay Rd, Winnetka, Ill. 60093-4094, (847) 446-0674