Wednesday, April 16, 2008

PDF Creation for free

CutePDF Writer (Freeware)
You can create professional quality PDF files from almost any printable document. FREE for personal, commercial, gov or edu use! No watermarks! No popup Web ads! Now supports 64-bit Windows.

     Free Download (1.6MB)  (Vista Ready)      Learn More

Click on the Free Download above and Install CutePDF.  To use it, create your document in any software you already use like MS Word.  Then print, but instead of choosing your epson or canon printer, choose "CutePDF Writer" and the dialog boxes lead you through where to save your new pdf.

The only issue I've had with it is that if you try to save a second time to the same name, the save says it worked, but doesn't work.  You should delete the PDF file before saving a second time.
 
Mike Bessler

Monday, April 14, 2008

Press release for the Plainfield Art League Gallery & School ribbon cutting to be held at 11:30am April 15, 2008.

Nourish the artist in you 

Members and ambassadors of the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Plainfield Art League Gallery & School (PAL), a non-profit educational charity dedicated to inspiring and maintaining a common interest in the Arts throughout Plainfield and surrounding communities.  Our current membership includes residents of Plainfield, Naperville, Joliet, Bolingbrook, Lockport, Shorewood, Bridgeview, Romeoville, and Minooka.  PAL offers classes in pencil portraits, watercolor, pastel and colored pencil.  The current exhibit is comprised of work by all of our current instructors to illustrate their technique.  There is a general meeting for the board and committee volunteers the first Wednesday of each month and a demonstration the second Wednesday of each month open to the public.  The Gallery is open each Thursday from 1pm to 9pm for Member's Open Studio.  The next exhibit will be the PNHS Senior Studio Show.  The PNHS exhibit will be open to the public throughout Spring Fest.  All exhibits and events are held at 24114 W. Chicago Street, on the north side of the Village Green.  For more information on our classes and coming events, please visit our web site at www.plainfieldartleague.org, send an email to info@plainfieldartleague.org or call us at 815-436-4351.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Exhibit at Peabody Estate showcases art guilds’ ‘Best of Best’

Oak Brook Suburban Life

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Oak Brook, IL -

The Alliance of Fine Art presents "The 16th Annual Best of the Best" fine art exhibition at the Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook, from now through May 18.

It highlights notable local artists who have been recognized for their excellence. The exhibit will close with a public reception and award presentation from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 18.

Established in 1962 in Oak Brook, the Alliance of Fine Art is a nonprofit professional association comprised of art organizations, leagues and guilds. Member organizations include the Addison Art Guild, Downers Grove Artists' Guild, Elmhurst Artists' Guild, LaGrange Art League, Lemont Artists Guild, Midwest Collage Society, Naperville Art League, Plainfield Art League, Ridge Art Association, Town and Country Art League and the West Suburban Artists Guild.

"This is the first year that the 'Best of the Best' will be held at Mayslake, and having 100 works of fine art featured in (its) elegant setting will be a memorable experience," said Nancy D'Agostino, who chairs the exhibit. Visit www.allianceoffineart.com for more information.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Workshop of the President and the Board of Trustees held on Monday, February 25, 2008 at Village Hall

Mayor Waldorf called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were: Mayor Waldorf, Trustee
Racich, Trustee Vaupel, Trustee Dement, Trustee Fay, Trustee Lamb, and Trustee Manning. Also
present were: Chris Minick, Administrator; Jim Harvey, Attorney; Michelle Gibas, Village Clerk;
Allen Persons, Public Works Director; Jim Testin, Community Development Director; Traci
Pleckham, Management Services Director; Valerie Hastings, GIS Manager; Joan Meyers, Attorney;
and Don Bennett, Chief of Police. There were approximately 7 persons in the audience.
Trustee Fay requested a moment of silence in honor of the NIU shooting victims.
Trustee Fay moved to approve the Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Workshop held on
January 28, 2008. Seconded by Trustee Lamb. Voice Vote. All in favor, 0 opposed. Motion
carried.

PRESIDENTIAL COMMENTS
Mayor Waldorf congratulated the planners of the C.W. Avery YMCA Extravaganza that was on
Saturday.

TRUSTEE COMMENTS
Trustee Lamb commented on the Plainfield Art League's open house.
Trustee Vaupel:
• Asked for a timeline for the Boulevard Project.
• Stated that at the last Committee of the Whole Workshop there was some discussion on
sending the School District a letter regarding the Village's position on a transportation facility
at 143rd and Route 59, and asked if a letter was sent. Administrator Minick stated that he was
not clear that he was supposed to send a letter. Trustee Manning indicated that he too was
under the impression that the Administrator was to send a letter.
Trustee Racich
• Stated that he recently returned from a trip to Slidell, LA, our Sister City. He delivered gift
cards from Target and Walmart. Trustee Racich thanked the Plainfield Quilting Bees for their
generous donation of 25 quilts to help the citizens of Slidell.
• Asked for an update on PEP.
• Stated that he recently asked to have a meeting with the School District. He would like to
have Trustee Vaupel and Administrator Minick meet with some representatives of the School
Board to come up with an agenda for a full board meeting, and asked the Village Attorney for
an interpretation on whether or not that is in violation of the Open Meetings Act. Attorney
Harvey indicated that if it was considered a subcommittee of the Village Board, it would then
be subject to the Open Meetings Act. Mayor Waldorf stated that he would prefer a meeting of
both Boards as a whole and that he has been in communication with Dr. Harper.
• Stated that the Plainfield Art League's Open House was wonderful.
 
full article: http://www.plainfield-il.org/documents/WS2.25.08.pdf Minutes Committee of the Whole Workshop – February 25, 2008 Page 2 ...
both Boards as a whole and that he has been in communication with Dr. Harper. • Stated that the Plainfield Art League's Open House was wonderful. ...

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Plainfield principal's art show to benefit students, Art League

 
April 4, 2008

Plainfield Academy principal and artist Tod Schnowske will show his newest work of art at 4 p.m. April 4 as part of a special event benefiting District 202 students and the Plainfield Art League.

Schnowske will unveil a 120-square-foot painting at the Edward Hospital Medical Office Building, 24600 W. 127th St. The work will be permanently displayed at the facility, which is owned by BremnerDuke Healthcare Real Estate.

In addition, 10 similar pieces, each about 16 inches by 20 inches, will be available for purchase for $100 each. The community is invited to attend the event, called "Public Arts, and Community Service ART x 2." The event will include entertainment and refreshments.

From the proceeds of the sale of the 10 pieces, the Kiwanis Club will receive $500 to be given to District 202 graduating students. The other $500 will go to the Plainfield Art League, which promotes art education and community participation in the fine arts.

After searching for five years for an "ambitious public art opportunity," Schnowske said he settled on Edward Hospital because art is therapeutic.

"Edward Hospital believes in displaying visually therapeutic elements such as fine art and large fish aquariums," Schnowske said. "Art is a healer, and it can be very motivational, inspiring and even act as a catalyst for socialization."

Schnowske joined District 202 in 2001 as a service learning coordinator. In 2004, he was named principal of Plainfield Academy, the district's alternative school.

He has a bachelor's degree in fine art from Northern Illinois University and worked for two years for a Chicago architectural firm before returning to school to pursue a degree in education.

"I have been passionately in love with the visual arts for as long as I can remember. Art is my salvation," Schnowske said.

Schnowske enjoys mixing mediums such as photography, projected light, graphic art, oil paints and found objects. His work features flowing colors and unique textures of paint.

"I paint in a free style that reminds me of flowing water," Schnowske said.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Stop pre-approved credit and insurance offers

You can stop the pre-approved credit and insurance offers by calling 888-5OPTOUT (888-567-8688). Or
you can do this online at www.optoutprescreen.com. This will stop most of the offers, the ones
that go through the credit bureaus. It's good for five years or you can make it permanent.

Friday, March 21, 2008

PAL Submissions for Best of Best Show

The following PAL artists are featured in the prestigious 16th Annual Best of the Best Fine Art Exhibit, a show sponsored by the Alliance of Fine Art for the creme de la creme of local artists guilds and leagues.  The exhibit is now showing at the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook  It runs from Friday, March 21, through Sunday, May 18, when it will culminate with a reception and award presentation.

 
 Artist
Name of the Piece
Media
Size
Price
Carol Baumrucker
"Snowy Dune"
Pastel
38 x 28 inches
NFS
Helen McLuckie
"Spring Lilies"
Pastel
17 x 20 inches
$600
Marge Schlekeway
"Pink Horizon"
Pastel
15 x 39 inches
$360
Amy Turner
"Alight On Her Toes"
Colored Pencil
16 x 20 inches
NFS
Joe Hadamik
"Claw"
Clay and Wood
13" diameter*
$1200
Tita Brady
"Yes to Four"
Oil
29" diameter
NFS
Mike Bessler
"Glowing Forest"
Photography
22 x 62 inches
$500
Courtney Weed
"Beach Fun"
Pastel
18 x 24 inches
$450
Mindy Donahue
Untitled
Watercolor
21 x 30 inches
$480
John Plucinski
"Giant Dahlia"
Fused Stained Glass
12" diameter
$225
 

For more information, visit www.AllianceOfFineArt.com.