The St Charles Arts Council’s Pop Up Arts program is popping up at 7 South Second Ave., St. Charles, Illinois. The gallery opens as a featured program of Celebrating Veterans Through Art on Saturday, Nov. 5, running through Sunday, Nov. 27.

The gallery theme is “From Sea to Shining Sea – People, Places, and Things in America” and it is part of a weeklong series of veteran events in St. Charles called “Celebrating Veterans Through Art.”

The Opening/Artist Reception is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5. Appetizers and drink will be provided and visitors can meet many of the artists whose work is in the gallery.

This gallery features artwork created by local and regional visual artists, many of whom are veterans. The gallery will also include the work of local students. St. Charles East High School’s Class of 2017’s videotaped interviews of veterans (a Library of Congress program), as well as paintings designed by East High School students.

The gallery features the work of: Guy J. Bellaver, Rick Brems, Jared Chimil, Al DaValle, Linda J. Evans, Claudia Frost, Marcia Gutierre, Ray Kobald, Karen Muehlfelt, Chris Pappas, James Patinka, Sherry Pritz, Linda Roxe, Nanette B. Stephen, Dennis Walz and Fred H. Zinke

In describing the gallery, Elizabeth Bellaver, St Charles Arts Council volunteer curator, said the theme “From Sea to Shining Sea” theme isn’t just about the continental United States.

“We wanted a theme that was in keeping with the concept of the veterans event, but defined more globally — all of those people, places and things that are specific or iconic to America which are ultimately the reason our veterans served,” he said. “The gallery features the work of regional artists and includes photographs, paintings, and sculptures, ranging from Bison to Wonder Bread to Harley Davidsons to Farms and Cities and Native American icons.”

The SCAC and the neXt gallery committee extended special thanks to Wendell Clancy, the building owner, for the use of the space, and Brian Henry with ReMax who facilitated its use.

Some images of the artwork and the gallery space can be found on the this page of the SCAC website. More information about the Celebrating Veterans Through Art event can be found at StCharlesArtsCouncil.org. The SCAC phone number is 630-443-3794.

The Pop Up Arts program is a collaboration that promotes local/regional artists, the SCAC, and the St. Charles business community. The Arts Council encourages building owners, volunteers, art supporters, and art collectors to get involved in this program to support the arts, and encourages artists to contact the SCAC to learn about opportunities.

The Celebrating Veterans Through Art event is Presented and Sponsored by the St Charles Arts Council, American Legion Post 342, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5036, the Arcada, and P-ARTS/East High School in partnership with Community Unit School District 303.

About the St Charles Arts Council

The St Charles Arts Council is a 501(c)(3), registered not-for-profit Illinois corporation whose mission is to serve and promote the arts and cultural activities, to the mutual benefit of the arts and the community. The SCAC is staffed entirely by volunteers. Contact the SCAC for information at 630.443.3794 or at info@StCharlesArtsCouncil.org.