www.napervilleartleague.com
"inspiring passion in the arts "
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About
NAL
Celebrating our 48th Year!
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2010-2011 BOARD MEMBERS: |
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Our
Mission
The Naperville Art League,
founded in 1961,
provides art instruction and education, encourages interest in all forms of
creative art, stimulates understanding and appreciation of art in the community,
and participates in other related activities. We are a not-for-profit, volunteer based organization sponsored by our membership and dedicated to promoting and supporting the visual arts and encouraging artists within the community.
Members are encouraged to volunteer their time and talent to expose the community to original fine art and provide education and enjoyable opportunities for all.
History
of the Naperville Art League
"What moves men of genius, or rather what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough." Eugene Delacroix
And so we continue, to work, to play and to share our inspiration with you just as the first members of the Naperville Art League did several decades ago. We hope you will spend time enjoying the art exhibited on this website, and sometime stop in to visit our Gallery for more. But, since history grounds us, here are but a few facts about the origins of the Naperville Art League.
The Naperville Art League was chartered by the State of Illinois as a not-for profit organization in 1961. It was also incorporated that year. The League’s original membership consisted of 30 artists, with Hayman Herndon as its first president. The group met in the basement of the First National Bank of Naperville (now the Harris Bank) and classes were offered to its members in their homes.
When the League opened its classes to the public, both the meetings and classes were moved to the basement of the original Nichols Library. The members longed for a home of their own and initiated a “housing fund,” staging the first Annual Art Auction (link to auction) in the early sixties. The highest price paid was $25 for a large, framed watercolor. Over the years, the Auction has been hosted from the A&P, to Clyde Netzley’s Auto Showroom to a variety of locations as we looked forward to our current Gallery location.
In 1978, the League purchased the Bible Church building on the corner of Center and 5th Avenue, which became the League’s Gallery. The original structure is now the 'classroom' side of the current building. For the last several years, the Regency Bank on Washington Street has graciously hosted our annual event each spring.
Influenced by one of our charter members, Harold and Eva White, the owners of the Naperville Sun, grew to appreciate the work of the Art League. They paid the League’s outstanding mortgage balance and later remembered us in their estate, which allowed the League to add-on the current Gallery (link to our gallery) space to the building in 1996.
The league regularly offers a variety of classes and workshops for Adults and Children. In addition to monthly exhibits at the Gallery, we exhibit in February at Barnes and Noble and in the members’ tent at the RFAF and seek out additional opportunities to showcase our artists’ works at local restaurants, office lobbies, and other local venues.
The
Gallery
Since its inception in 1961, the Naperville Art League has provided support for local emerging and established artists. The Naperville Fine Art Center and Gallery, supported by the Art League, provides a place for artists to gather together, exhibit their original work and share their talents with the community. The Gallery is a place where both artists and the community come to learn, understand and appreciate art. The Gallery is open to the public and features classes for adults and children, workshops, demonstrations and regular exhibits.
Referral
Service
The Art League provides a referral service for community residents seeking to commission original art by a league member as a gift or for their office or home. We also refer artists to do demonstrations or art instruction outside of our regular classes. Contact us at Naperartleague@aol.com for more information.
Join
Membership is open to artists and people who appreciate and support the arts.
Volunteer
Opportunities
Members are expected to volunteer to support at least one NAL activity during the year. Members may volunteer in a variety of capacities to help out at the Riverwalk Fine Art Fair, the Annual Holiday Show, the Gallery Walk, our out-of-gallery show at Barnes and Noble in February, the Annual Auction, and other events. Our Membership Application contains a list ways in which members can be active, including participation on the NAL Board of Directors and a variety of event committees.
Members volunteer and are of assistance in local community affairs, including the Community Cultural Exchange, a group sponsored by the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. Many members also volunteer to share their artistic talents and interests with local schools and churches by participating in arts committees and by giving classes and demonstrations to inspire art and art appreciation among students and church members.
Volunteerism is at the heart of our organization! Please let us know how you are interested in helping us! Contact us at Naperartleague@aol.com.
Fine
Art Center and Gallery
The Fine Art Center and Gallery is located close to downtown Naperville at 508 North Center Street, on the corner of North Center St. and North 5th Ave., one block east of Washington Street, and just north of the Naperville Train Station. The Gallery is the location for all NAL classes and workshops and seminars, unless otherwise indicated.