Tiles and Junk Equal Art: An Art Show Review

So, not long ago I joined this place here in Chicago called The Writer's Workspace. For a small fee writers can use this space as a place to work. It has a lounge, library, private office, conference room, work studio, kitchen, printer and fax machine. It is a creative mind's dream. In addition to being a place created by writers for writers it is also a place dedicated to showing off local Chicago artists by allowing the many gorgeously painted walls of the place be the home of artwork throughout the year.

I went to my first art opening. I have to say it was a little bit of everything you see in the movies and, yet, a little bit cooler than anything I had experienced before. First off, it was a showing showcasing two very talented women using mixed media pieces to show off different aspects of their art and their creativity. Both of them create art that makes you want to step closer to the piece and take a look. Both artists create works of art that seem to want to leap off the wall at you and both of them create art that you almost want to reach out and touch.

At the front of the building, located on Broadway in Chicago's Andersonville area, is the lounge area and for the entire first half of the building's length is the work of Heather Hancock. She is a mom and wife and a woman who likes to work with wood, ceramic tiles, bits of glass and even grout. What does she create? Well, she creates explosions of color that somehow seem to move and swirl as you watch them, evoking moods and feelings you wouldn't expect from looking at static pieces of ceramics, glass and wood hanging on a wall.

Heather does kitchens in her art. Her canvasses are the backsplashes of people's homes. A postcard shows some of her work. I overheard her telling at least one person that she goes into these homes and just starts working. It is not like you go to her and tell her what colors you want where. She is truly creative and does the entire thing from her imagination. Even the postcard, of a kitchen, is beautiful enough you'd want to frame it.