McCord Gallery & Cultural Center, 9602 W. Creek Road, Palos Park, featured the art of Stagg High School's most creative artists until January 28. (Photos by Kelly White)

McCord Gallery & Cultural Center, 9602 W. Creek Road, Palos Park, featured the art of Stagg High School's most creative artists until January 28. (Photos by Kelly White)

McCord shows off Stagg student artworks

Spread the love

By Kelly White 

Stagg High School art students proudly had their work showcased at a local gallery.

McCord Gallery & Cultural Center, 9602 W. Creek Road, Palos Park, featured the art of Stagg’s most creative until January 28.

“Having my work as part of an art show in an art gallery like McCord is significant to me because it means my work was done well enough to be selected for this show,” Dean Ghosein, 16, of Orland Park, said. “It’s another level of satisfaction that validates the artwork I created. It is exciting to have such an opportunity as a high school student.”

3 4

Stagg High School junior Samantha Doyle, 16, of Hickory Hills, created a 3D piece of artwork representing mental illness for the high school’s art exhibition at McCord Gallery & Cultural Center.

A reception of the exhibition was held on Friday, January 21. The event was free and open to the public.

“It’s gratifying to have others appreciate something that I made,” Ghosein said.

“As an art teacher and artist, it is always a proud moment to have your students’ works to be showcased on any capacity. It is very exciting to have their work celebrated and elevated in the gallery environment,” Arwa Azhari, Art Teacher at Stagg, said. “It gives them an understanding of where their art can go beyond the classroom as a real-world experience.”

As Azhari said, exhibiting art in an actual gallery space allows students to see how much their work is appreciated and respected by others, and encourages them to continue to pursue their interests in art, and gallery representatives said they are honored to provide the space to display up and coming artists in the local community.

McCord has always been a supportive community art center in which to showcase the accomplishments of our art students,” Azhari said. “It validates their art beyond the classroom level and teaches them that art can be shown to elevate culture and communicate to others.”

The gallery has been showcasing Stagg’s students’ artwork since 2014.

This year, more than 100 students had pieces displayed, ranging from jewelry projects, paintings, drawings, photographs, digital media projects, and more, for a total of 141 creative works of art.

“My mom is an artist and has had work on display there which is a legacy to keep,” Courtney Conroy, 16, of Palos Hills, said.

The work was created in a variety of Stagg’s art courses, including: digital media design, drawing, painting, photography, jewelry, advanced placement art, etc.

Junior Ula Beinartas decided to highlight a piece of reflective photography.

“I’m a nature person,” Beinartas, 16, of Palos Hills, said. “I focused on a tree in a courtyard near my home that was changing colors and looked absolutely beautiful.”

The works, like Beinartas’, were completed for the exhibition during class time over the course of the semester. Students of all grade levels, from freshmen to seniors, were selected to participate in the unique opportunity based on classroom and project experience to which they excelled, Azhari said.

“It was a pleasure to host this event once again, as it allowed us to feature the works of the young, up and coming artists in our community in a gallery setting,” Linda Buchanan, Executive Director of McCord Gallery & Cultural Center, said. “We always look forward to hosting this event, and hope it encourages many of these students to expand and continue their interest in the arts as a hobby or a career.”

regional stagg at mccord2 2022

Stagg High School junior Ula Beinartas, 16, of Palos Hills, stands next to her work hanging at McCord Gallery & Cultural Center, 9602 W. Creek Road, Palos Park, during an art reception on Friday, January 21.

The McCord House has deep Palos Park roots. It was originally built in the early 1830s. The house was part of a farm that raised cattle and other farm animals. The house was renovated by the Connell Family in the 1940s and all the windows and staircase are original to the building.

McCord Gallery & Cultural Center opened its doors in 2004. The gallery not only showcased the work of local artists, but it also offers art classes, music lessons, cultural events and workshops to the public.

“Stagg was thrilled to be able to partner with a local gallery to give our art students the opportunity to show their work,” Mary Pat Carr, Assistant Principal at Stagg, said. “We are very fortunate to have a long relationship with the McCord Gallery and know that it means so much to our students, their families, and friends to have their work highlighted where all can enjoy it.”

Local News

CRR_NH

Clear-Ridge Reporter and NewsHound March 27, 2024

Spread the love

Spread the love

Mary Stanek

Will the month of March leave like a lion?

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place •  (773) 517-7796 . The days are getting longer and slightly warmer. But my prediction of a few weeks ago–March is certainly not leaving like a lamb–may prove to be correct. A sure sign of spring in…

Peggy Zabicki

Robin sighting a sign of new beginnings

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327 . I saw a robin the other day. This was the first sighting of the season for me. I remember my mom saying that the first robin of spring is a promise of new beginnings. May it be so. Is…

Kathy Headley

Get those Easter baskets blessed at St. Thomas More

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . We’ve got several events coming up in the near future that I want to share with you, so let’s get started. The traditional Blessing of Easter Baskets takes place at St. Thomas More, 2825…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Thome sweet Thome: Nazareth baseball defeats Hall of Famer Jim Thome’s alma mater

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Nazareth baseball team took a road trip to the middle of Illinois and improved its record to 7-0 on March 23 by beating Limestone, 6-0. Limestone is the alma mater of former White Sox player and Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Thome, who is an assistant coach…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Chicago Catholic League greats headed to Hall of Fame

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent A handful of area stars will be inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The list features Kevin Bracken (St. Laurence, wrestling), Kevin Carberry (St. Rita, football), Matt Macievic (De La Salle, cross county and track), Mike McGrew (Mount Carmel, football), Dan Nicholson (Brother Rice,…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Fire II tops Chicago City, advances to to second round of Hunt Open Cup

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Fire II picked up a late invitation to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and beat Chicago City, 6-0, on March 20 in front of an announced crowd of 810 at SeatGeek Stadium. Defender Giovanni Granda and midfielder Vitaliy Hlyut each made their professional debut and scored…

Julia Bianchi heads back on defense shortly after delivering a first-half goal for the Chicago Red Stars on March 23 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Red Stars top Seattle, open season with two wins for first time in franchise history

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Last year’s last-place finish notwithstanding, the Chicago Red Stars have had a pretty rich history of success. The franchise has seven NWSL playoff appearances and has finished runner-up twice (2019, 2021), and prior to 2022 had finished no lower than fourth in the league ‘s regular season standings for…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

College Football | Marian (Indiana) and St. Francis highlight Saint Xavier 2024 home slate

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Saint Xavier has released its 2024 football schedule, which has the Cougars opening the season in Michigan. SXU will travel to the Detroit suburb of Southfield to play Lawrence Tech on Sept. 7 in a Mid-States Football Association crossover. The Cougars’ home opener kicks off at noon on Sept.…

Morton's Nariah Clay was named to the NCJAA Division II all-tournament team as the Panthers finished fifth in the nation. Photo courtesy of Morton College Department of Athletics

Morton College women’s hoops takes fifth in nation

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent For the second year in a row, the Morton College women’s basketball team finished fifth in the country. The Panthers closed out the 2023-24 campaign in Joplin, Missouri, with a 75-67 victory over Iowa Western on March 23 in the consolation championship game at the NJCAA Division II National…

Neighbors

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the case of actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted for staging a hate crime against him in 2019 in a case that drew criticism for Cook County’s top prosecutor. Smollett made what turned out to be…

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

By PETER HANCOCK  Capitol News Illinois  phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – Illinois continues to suffer from a shortage of teachers and other education professionals, although recent efforts by the state to ease the strain have made an impact.  That’s according to the latest annual survey of school officials from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools,…

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Two bills that would regulate battery disposal and storage are awaiting action from the full Illinois Senate after unanimous committee approval.   Senate Bill 3481, sponsored by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency…

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The longtime chair and a relatively new member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have resigned, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced Monday. The governor’s office announced the pair’s resignations within hours of each other nearly two weeks after Crosetti Brand was released from Stateville Correctional Center. Brand is…

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

By ALEX ABBEDUTO   Capitol News Illinois  abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  The night before Rebecca Hooks started at the Illinois State Police Academy in 2002, she spoke on the phone with her father and her brother – both of whom worked in law enforcement.  Her father encouraged her, telling her she was strong and could get through the…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

Capitol Briefs: Insurance reforms advance as Pritzker announces California trip

Capitol Briefs: Insurance reforms advance as Pritzker announces California trip

By PETER HANCOCK, JENNIFER FULLER & ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposal for sweeping reforms in the state’s health insurance industry passed out of a committee Thursday and will soon make its way to the full House for consideration. Pritzker first outlined the proposal in his State of the…