Jon Randolph (photographer) came to photography as an errant English major back in the late 50s. He worked as a still photographer for WTTW, PBS in Chicago for several years in the 1970s receiving a New York Art Directors award in 1974 for an essay on Cook County Jail. He collaborated with sound engineer Bob Dove to produce essays that mixed wild sound, music, and stills into video pieces and they were nominated for an Emmy for late night mood pieces for Nightwatch, overnite show hosted by Gene Siskel. In 1983 he became an independent photographer specializing in location work, editorial, portraiture, corporate and audio/visual work. He worked extensively for the Chicago Reader and Chicago Enterprise (business magazine). His documentary photography on Highway 61 & Ixil Triangle (Guatemala) have turned into several shows. He is currently working on a book related to his
photo documentary Highway 61.
When asked why photography, he responds "What you see is what you get! ... It gives you a sense of time ... a sense of color... You are able to make wonderful things from nothing."
www.jonrandolph.com
Mary Lou Petty (Warm Winds Design)
"After doing psychotherapy for 37 years in Chicago, I retired and returned to my '60's roots of beading jewelry. In addition, I've taken classes in lapidary arts, silversmithing, and PMC/Precious Metal Clay in Chicago and in Dubois, Wyoming, where I now reside.
Being surrounded by mountains and abundant wildlife inspires my work. The Wind River runs not too far from our house and the surrounding area is known as "the Valley of the warm winds"; thus, the name: Warm Winds Designs." www.WarmWindsDesigns.etsy.com
Beatriz Ledesma (painter)- a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina who was drawn to painting and drawing in her teen years. She obtained a MFA/MAAT from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1988)
and a doctoral degree focusing on the use of art-making
in the clinical treatment of adults (2009).
Her extensive exhibition record includes numerous solos and group shows in galleries and museums such as Chicago Cultural Center, Edna Manley College (Jamaica), Dittmar Memorial Gallery (Evanston), Paterson Museum (NJ), Latino Art Museum (CA), Museum of Contemporary Art (CO), Centro Cultural Recoleta (BA, Argentina), Gallery 79 (Brazil),
Centro Colombo Americano (Medellin, Colombia).
She enjoys working in collaboration with different art expressions and since 1992 she has curated, organized, and participated in several collaborations--"Incantation-1997 @ Links Hall Studio, "Toward Diane Arbus"- 1993 @ Randolph Street Gallery, "ARTicipate"-1992 @ Beacon Street Gallery, are few examples. In 2011, she was invited to participate in the First International Art Conference in Kingston, Jamaica presenting "Spiritual Resonances", a collaboration with jazz musician Orville Hammond.
She states about her work: "... My work is filled with the surreal and colorful language of Latin America culture & folklore, dream imagery, myths, and rituals. My alignment to surrealist concepts as well as meditation practice has increased my intuitive and nonlinear thinking. The viewer is challenged to develop a contemplative dialogue with the painting; in that viewing the painting may evoke a feeling, an emotion, or a memory ...
www.ledesmastudio.com
Adele Roman (Ramona Jewelry)
Oak Park native, Adele Roman, grew up in a large family where creativity flourished. Her mother, who attended SAIC in the 50's, is a very resourceful and creative woman who was able to pass down to her eight children, the "creative bug".
Adele seems to have always had a predominant creative side; from making cards & notes for friends to ceramic dishes and jewelry.
She states "I am happiest when I am creating something beautiful and functional. I have come to realize that things I create have a distinct purpose."
Now living in Skokie, raising two daughters, working full time, she finds making jewelry therapeutic and a perfect way to bond with her girls. She, as her mother, is passing down to her daughters the "creative bug".
