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Community Corner

Artist Duo Bring Passion to Art & Life

The actor Robin Williams once wrote “Your work makes my heart tap dance.” It is that emotional response that artist duo Roberta and David Williamson seek to evoke through their one-of-a-kind jewelry and mixed media. On Saturday, August 9, the Williamsons will speak about the “Passion of Art & Life” at Northwestern University’s Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art (40 Arts Circle Drive) on the University’s Evanston campus. Free and open to the public, the Williamson’s talk will be held at 10 a.m.

Collaborating since they were 18, Roberta and David have been refining their craft in their metals studio for 45 years. After so many years together, their processes for creating these extraordinary wares has become seamless. Pulling from the vast archives of found objects, antique prints, pressed ferns and leaves and various ephemera that line their studio walls, the Williamsons create pieces that remind us of our own families, a long forgotten moment, a daydream or simply a reminder of how connected we all are.

“Life is so intense and changing in various ways each and every day,” notes Roberta. “By identifying your passion and applying it to everything you do, life can become richer and more satisfying. We hope to share with attendees how our passion plays into craft and the beautiful pieces we produce.”

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The Williamson’s are regular participants at The American Craft Exposition (ACE), an annual juried show of fine craft organized by The Auxiliary of NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore), which raises funds for ovarian cancer research. ACE will return to the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion on Northwestern University’s Evanston Campus, Thursday, August 21 with a Collectors’ Hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. followed by a Benefit Preview Party from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. The show runs throughout the weekend:  Friday, August 22, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, August 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, August 24, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 for a three-day pass or $13 when purchased in advance online. 

Nationally recognized masters of their craft, Roberta and David’s works can also be seen in the collections of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, the Racine Art Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Tacoma Art Museum, the Ohio Crafts Museum and in 2009 they were featured in the PBS documentary, Craft in America.

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For more information on The American Craft Exposition, to purchase tickets or to make a donation, please visit americancraftexpo.org or call (224) 364-7270.

About NorthShore University HealthSystem

Headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) is a comprehensive, fully integrated, healthcare delivery system that serves the Chicago region. The system includes four hospitals in Evanston, Glenview, Highland Park and Skokie. NorthShore employs approximately 10,000 staff and has 2,400 affiliated physicians, including a 900 physician, multispecialty group practice with some 100 office locations. Further, NorthShore supports teaching and research as the principal teaching affiliate for the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

The NorthShore Research Institute focuses on clinical and translational research, including leadership in clinical trials, medical informatics and genomics. The NorthShore Foundation is the organization’s primary philanthropic entity. The Foundation raises charitable contributions and engages volunteer friends in support of NorthShore’s ongoing mission to preserve and improve human life.

NorthShore has significant capabilities in a wide spectrum of clinical programs, including Kellogg Cancer Center, NorthShore Neurological Institute and NorthShore Orthopaedic Institute, as well as in cardiovascular care, high-risk maternity and pediatrics. NorthShore is a Magnet recognized organization, the first in Illinois designated as a system to receive this prestigious honor that demonstrates excellence in nursing. NorthShore is a national leader in the implementation of innovative technologies, including electronic medical records (EMR). In 2003, NorthShore was among the first in the country to successfully launch a system-wide EMR with demonstrable benefits in quality, safety, efficiency and service to patients. NorthShore has been recognized by multiple national organizations for this notable achievement.

About The Block Museum

The Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art is the fine arts museum of Northwestern University and Chicago’s North Shore, serving the academic and cultural needs of the University and community through thought-provoking exhibitions, a rich and diverse permanent collection, original scholarship, and dynamic educational and cultural programs. The Block is also home to Block Cinema, presenting classic and contemporary cinema from around the world.

CONSTRUCTION ALERT

A long-term construction project on Northwestern’s south campus has limited access to the Block Museum and Arts Circle Drive. Free parking is available all day on weekends, and after 4 p.m. on weekdays in the lot directly south of the museum. For directions and additional parking information, visit www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/visit/directions-and-parking/index.html.

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