Peoria's Hidden Treasures Podcast

Peoria's Hidden Treasures - October 10, 2011

Nathan Irwin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:32:26 +0000

This week, we're looking at the art of Grace Hall Hemingway, the mother of Ernest Hemingway. Trained as an opera singer, she turned to painting when her voice began to fade. She enrolled in classes at the Art Institute of Chicago, and turned her home's music room into an art studio. One of her desert landscapes is on display at Lakeview Museum until Janaury 15th.

Peoria's Hidden Treasures - October 3, 2011

Nathan Irwin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:07:09 +0000

Our look at works by Illinois women artists continues this week with the photographs of Clara Brian. After receiving a degree in home economics, she taught at Wesleyan University, then worked for the Home Bureau in McLean County. As she travelled the county, she brought her camera along, and her travels yielded many of her photographs -- three of which are on display at Lakeview Museum through January 15th.

Peoria's Hidden Treasures - September 26, 2011

Nathan Irwin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:57:08 +0000

One of the works now on display at Lakeview Museum is Laura Van Pappelendam's "Around the Birdhouse." "Miss Van," as she was known, was a longtime instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work was featured in 250 art exhibits in Chicago and around the country. And at the time of her death, she had almost a thousand pieces in her studio.

Peoria's Hidden Treasures - September 19, 2011

Nathan Irwin — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 22:16:32 +0000

Bloomington artist Elmirea Burnham was born around the time of the Civil War, and lived into the Great Depression. Specializing in still-lifes and landscapes, she displayed her art at state fairs and at the Bloomington YWCA. On one occasion, six prize-winning paintings were distroyed when the train carrying them caught fire. Soon after, a group of neighbors rescued the art in her burning house. Today, one of her paintings can be found in an exhibit at Lakeview Museum, which reamins on display until January 15th.

Peoria's Hidden Treasures - September 12

Nathan Irwin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:02:31 +0000

This week, we're looking at the life and work of Enella Benedict. After studying art in Paris, she settled in Chicago, where she met reformer Jane Addams. Benedict became the director of art programs at Addams' Hull House for forty years, developing programs that tought art to the neighborhood's residents. Benedict's portrait of "Edith," a seven-year-old girl is on display through Januar 15th at lakeview Museum.

Peoria's Hidden Treasures - September 5

Nathan Irwin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:31:45 +0000

This week, we're at Lakeview Museum, to look at the work of Susan Healy St. John. Born is Dublin, Ireland in 1834, she emigrated to the United States with her family as a young girl, and eventually settled in Chicago. She learned portraiture from her father,a professional painter, and went on to paint many portraits of her own. Her portrait of Chicago industrialist and civic booster John Stephen Wright is on display at Lakeview through January 15th.

Peoria's Hidden Treasures - August 2, 2010

Nathan Irwin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:10:26 +0000

On display at Lakeview Museum in Peoria is the "Peoria Falcon," a copper headdress found in Peoria in 1856. After being held by the Smithsonian for many years, it returned to Peoria a few years ago. The museum also features the Jackard coverlet, a decorative bedspread featuring traditional German and Austrian designs. Nearby, the YWCA features the mural "Pool of Life."

Peoria's Hidden Treasures - July 26, 2010

Nathan Irwin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:16:17 +0000

Lakeview Museum in Peoria features a collection of outdoor sculptures. A bronze sculpture by Richard Hunt sits on the lawn across from the museum entrance. To the left of the museum is a red, aluminum sculpture called "Delos." The museum also features two works by Peoria artist Nita Sunderland are on display at the museum entrance.

Peoria's Hidden Treasures - July 19, 2010

Nathan Irwin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:14:33 +0000

The study hall at Peoria High School features four large murals called the "Four Freedoms." They were painted in 1943, as part of a drive to sell war bonds. Inspired by the well-known speech by Franklin Roosevelt, the murals depict freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from fear and freedom from want.

Peoria's Hidden Treasures - July 12, 2010

Nathan Irwin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:13:32 +0000

More works of art this week from Flanagan House, including several pictures of Louise Williamson from the 1890s. She owned the house around the turn of the century. The main bedroom features a portrait of Charles H. Dean, onetime owner of the Peoria House hotel. A portrait of a young Philip Horton hangs in the second-floor children's room. The hallway features a 1962 watercolor of Flanagan House itself.