Art in Alternative Spaces
Art in Alternative Spaces
presents
Soul Sisters
Art Celebrating Women in the Music Industry
in celebration of Black History Month and
Women's History Month
On Exhibition
at Devonshire Cultural Arts Center
4400 Greenwood St, Skokie, IL 60076
from Feb. 15, 2025 - March 31, 2025
Artists Reception: Sunday March 9, 2025 (2 - 4 pm)
Featuring Live Music by Val Leventhal
Click Here for Sponsor Opportunities
The building is handicap accessible.
Admission to the exhibition is FREE.
Gallery Viewing Hours are:
Mon - Thurs: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Fri, Sa, Su: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed Holidays
FREE PARKING!
Featuring Artwork by:
Tigerlily Cross, Ken Ellis, Maria Gedroc,
Larry Greenberg, Howard Greenblatt, Fran Joy,
Jan Repa and Cheryl Toles
Art Reception features Live Music by singer/songwriter Val Leventhal
Val's Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/search?q=Val+Leventhal
Val's YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Val+Leventhal
TIGERLILLY CROSS
Tiger Lily is a self-taught artist who works with a variety of mediums, including watercolor, oil, acrylics, pastels, graphite, colored pencils, paper, cardboard boxes, and wood. She also enjoys Plein air painting. Her artwork has been exhibited in galleries in Chicago, Oak Park, Skokie, Blue Island, Illinois, and also in LaGrange, Texas, and Oahu, Hawaii. This is Tigerlilly's 9th exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.
Nina Simone by TigerLilly Cross
Acrylic on Canvas, 8 x 10"
$125
Amy Winehouse by TigerLilly Cross
Acrylic on Canvas, 11 x 17"
$125
KEN ELLIS
Ken is a native of Chicago and credits his interest in art to his father who taught him to sew. Taken from news images and stories, Ken's creations have ranged from shocking historical scenes of the life of black and native Americans to Haitian voodoo, crime figures, Chicago's punk rock scene, Asian art and children's nursery rhymes.
Having worked as a professional bartender in Chicago, Ken's recent works are dear to his heart and feature historically lessor-known actual working bartenders, going back prior to the Prohibition period, shining a light on their colorful past.
Ken's work is exhibited around the country and was featured in Anatomically Correct's exhibition Sewing the Seeds A Look at Violence in American History and Fairy Tale Friends in Chicago. Ken's Bonnie & Clyde quilt from the Sewing the Seeds exhibition can be seen on the cover of Dr. Dog's "Fate" album released on July 22, 2008.
"My early childhood was in BronzeVille, one of my earliest memories is drawing on the blank pages of a set Biblical storybooks my Ma had bought me. I attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Art from 1973 to 1975 studying Cartooning, Animation & Film Making and the School of the Art Institute in 1975/76 studying animation, I also studied writing, television production & intro. into television at Columbia College in 1976/77. I have been drawing & painting as long as I can remember I originally painted in oils & was introduced to this medium by my x-wife Marilyn. We would use the dyes to make hand painted tee's , pillows, & baby blankets, Marilyn had some painting she had done w/ the dye which she quilted by adding a batting to the back of the painting which gives the piece a quilted/ relief effect. Working with the fabric dyes, needle & thread I feel as though I'm working WITH the piece as oppose to working ON a piece with paint, this makes me feel more at one with the piece. Most of my early pieces are portraits of historical figures, both known & obscure. Themes I've incorporated in the early pieces gangsters, musicians, black western, native Americans, freaks. Since the late 90's I've began to use different drawing styles & adding beadwork & objects to my pieces & some of the recent themes have been Haitian Voodoo, African- American Northern Migration, I also have done a series of Fairy Tale & Nursery Rhymes and pieces based on Japanese prints."
Ken's artwork can be seen in the film " High Fidelity" & you can read about it in the book "Wild Chicago" and he appeared on a WTTW television episode. Several of his quilts are featured in the International Review of African American Art - vol.17 #1- The Black- Indian Connection in American Art. Ken was also featured in the film, You Weren't There, a history of the Chicago Punk Rock scene from 1977-1984.
His quilts have been exhibited in many galleries in Chicago, New Mexico, Michigan and Minnesota. In 2013/2014, the Chicago Cultural Center featured his quilts in a solo exhibition.
Ken is represented by Anatomically Correct Arts. More of his work can be seen online: https://www.anatomicallycorrect.org/KenEllis.htm
This is Ken's 7th's exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.
Ma Rainey by Ken Ellis
Fabric Dye on Canvas, Hand Painted
with Adornments and Beads, 17 x 21"
$500
Hazel Scott by Ken Ellis
Fabric Dye on Canvas, Hand Painted
with Adornments and Beads, 19 x 19"
$500
Dinah Washington by Ken Ellis
Fabric Dye on Canvas, Hand Painted
with Adornments and Beads, 19 x 19"
$500
Bessie Smith by Ken Ellis
Fabric Dye on Canvas, Hand Painted, 19 x 19"
$500
MARIA GEDROC
Maria is an artist, designer, arts administrator, and educator who has been in more than 180+ art shows and galleries including the Dancing Krow in the Oak Park Harrison Arts District, Oak Park Art League, Chicago Public Library, Ferguson Art Gallery at Concordia University Chicago, Northern Illinois University Museum and Gallery, and It's Liquid International, Venice and Rome, Italy. Her artwork is included in the Chicago Art Scene, Werks Contemporary Art Magazine, Art in the Post, Jack Arends Hall Alumni Celebration: 50 Years of Excellence in the Visual Arts, Motif, The Creative Arts Journal of Concordia University Chicago and more. She received a Bachelor of Fine Art from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Art in Arts Administration from The School of Art Institute of Chicago. She enjoys creating fine art, graphic art and photography and mixing all these elements together. Her art work is mixed media in nature including acrylic paint, paper, wood, photography, and found objects. Many of her ideas, themes and content explore personal space and spirituality through architectural or natural elements. "I like building things. I like the tangible feeling of materials and sometimes these ideas develop into paintings, photography, collage and or three dimensional structures. After many years of creating art, I have different series of work all of which have their own deeper symbolism and meaning pertaining to the pieces in the series." This is Maria's second exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.
Green Mill Lounge, Chicago by Maria Gedroc
Acrylic and Paper, 20.5 x 14.5"
$500
Preservation Jazz by Maria Gedroc
Archival Print, 21 x 15"
$125
(Original Painting is Available - size 41 x 29" - for $500)
LARRY GREENBERG
Having blown off my required high school art class in 1964, I decided to take up pencil, charcoal and pastel many years later in 2018. I am happy to have had the mentorship and guidance of Sabina West at the Skokie Park District studio and the Life Drawing experience of the Skokie Art Guild to develop my skills. I am most interested in capturing human form and visage, especially in unusual situations and expressions. This is Larry's 4th exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.
Odetta by Larry Greenberg
Charcoal and Pencil on Paper, 16 x 20"
$250
Billie Holiday by Larry Greenberg
Pencil on Paper, 11 x 14"
$200
HOWARD GREENBLATT
Howard began his photography career with a photo shoot of John Lennon at The Record Plant in New York in 1972. Working as a cameraman for the TV show “Underground”, he traveled with the crew to interview John Lennon for the show. Howard recalls, “The Record Plant was a union shop so I wasn’t able to work as the cameraman. Instead, the director gave me his still camera and, although I had no experience with stills, I became a still photographer. This was the happiest disappointment I’ve ever experienced.” Following the demise of “Underground” in 1973, he moved to a kibbutz in Israel where he became a farmer. Howard saved his shekels to buy his own 35mm SLR to document the daily beauty he was experiencing. “I made lots of mistakes, but I think that’s the best way to learn.”
Back in Chicago in 1980, Howard discovered TUTs Chicago. His Lennon photo helped secure a job as house photographer. “TUTs Chicago was the cutting edge venue for music in Chicago.” In 1988, Howard accepted a position as staff photographer at Brookfield Zoo. Later he became the Zoo’s videographer producing many conservation videos and winning numerous awards during his 18 years there. Leaving Brookfield Zoo in 2006, he launched ZooVideo Productions producing conservation-based videos for Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida amongst others. Today, Howard has come full circle, once again photographing at various music venues around Chicago. His newest venture is Imagine Pictures.
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Koko Taylor Color Photography by Howard Greenblatt 8 x 10" - $100
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Samantha Fish Naper Settlement - August 16, 2024 Color Photography by Howard Greenblatt 8 x 10" - $100 |
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Sax Player Chicago Blues Festival 2024 Color Photography by Howard Greenblatt 8 x 10" - $100
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Dee Alexander Chicago Blues Festival 2024 Color Photography by Howard Greenblatt 8 x 10" - $100
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Demetria Taylor Fitzgeralds - December 2021 Color Photography by Howard Greenblatt 8 x 10" - $100
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Sheryl Youngblood BLUEberry Cafe - April 20, 2024 Color Photography by Howard Greenblatt 8 x 10" - $100
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Anne Harris Fitzgeralds - March 7, 2020 Color Photography by Howard Greenblatt 8 x 10" - $100
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CRUZ the Dame Born Crystal Ashlee BLUEberry Cafe - April 20, 2024 Color Photography by Howard Greenblatt 8 x 10" - $100
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Mavis Staples Chicago Blues Fest 2018 Color Photography by Howard Greenblatt 8 x 10" -
$100 |
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 Tierinni Naftaly Buddy Guy's Legends - Sept. 2017 Color Photography by Howard Greenblatt 8 x 10" - $100
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FRAN JOY
Fran Joy is an artist, designer, curator, and life coach currently living in Evanston. Born and raised in southern Illinois, she moved on to New Orleans and then to the greater Chicago/Evanston area. This life experience plus ten years of residence in Los Angeles and frequent visits to New York City have flavored and colored her passion as an artist. After studying oil painting, creative writing, and drawing at Columbia College in Chicago, Joy combined her own experimentation with the impromptu training she received from independent artists whose work she admired. Joy is known for her images on social justice, women, spirit images, iconic portraits, colorful abstract landscapes, and large designer wood screens and wall mounts. Her paintings usually begin with an acrylic base on canvas or wood followed by oil pastels, which are used with various sponges for texture, blending and intensity. The colors are usually vivid!
Joy has been featured on the cover of Evanston Magazine and has appeared in the Evanston Review and in the Chicago Tribune.
Joy completed an artist-in-residency at Garrett Theological Seminary on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus exploring themes of social justice and non-violence; it comprised four exhibitions, and two large pieces remain as part of Garrett’s permanent collection: “Violence Interrupted” and “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.” Joy also served a residency at Garrett’s Center for the Church and the Black Experience (CBE) focused on “Women in the Day of Trump.”
Joy curated and produced Justice for Peace, a show at Noyes Cultural Art Center that included spoken word artists, spiritual vocalists, and voter activists. She participated in the traveling Chicago/Evanston exhibit Faces Not Forgotten to shed light on young victims of gun violence. She participates in the Evanston Made group show each year. Women Speak, Joy’s exhibition and inspirational event celebrating women at the Lorraine Morton Civic Center, drew over one hundred attendees. Her social justice works were featured in the powerful Mudlark/Art of Evolution theatre production I.D.
Joy has exhibited at the Evanston Art Center, the Noyes Cultural Art Center, 1100 Florence Gallery, Curt’s Cafe, Open Studio Project, Garrett Theological Seminary, Artem Gallery, Danon Gallery, Lorraine Morton Civic Center, and Creative Coworking and her works are in private collections nationally, as well as in Canada and New Zealand.
She received the Evanston Mayor’s Artist of the Year Award in 2019 for her work on social justice and women. Joy formerly served on the Evanston Arts Council and on the board of Young Evanston Artists!. Currently, she serves on the Evanston Public Art Committee and on the Exhibition Committee of the Evanston Art Center.
This is Fran's third exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.
Spirit of Joy in Blue by Fran Joy
Acrylic/Oil on Canvas, 20 x 24"
$500
Phoenix Rising by Fran Joy
Acrylic/Oil Pastel on Canvas, 20 x 24"
$650
The Blues by Fran Joy
Acrylic/Oil Pastel on Canvas, 22 x 28"
$600
Women Unite by Fran Joy
Print on Archival Paper, 11 x 14"
JAN REPA
Jan Repa was born in the area of Zakopane, Poland, home of traditional glass painting, weaving and wood carving. Inspired by his family to pursue art (his father was a wood carver and carpenter and his mother was weaving traditional highlander rugs and wall hangings) Jan received a degree in Fine Arts from Antoni Kenar Art School in Zakopane, Poland. He graduated from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, IL. In addition to his paintings, Jan works as a freelance sculptor creating clay sculptures for casting in resin, concrete, plaster & bronze. He was also working for Orlandi Statuary creating custom statues. His life-size Mastodon Statue can be seen in Phillips Park in Aurora, IL and his bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln can be found on the NE corner of Lincoln/Dixie Crossroads in the City of Chicago Heights, IL. Another life size statue “Community” is installed outside of the Grand Avenue Community Center in Western Springs, IL. Jan was inspired to create this painting while listening to Billie Holiday's music. This is Jan's second exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.
Body and Soul by Jan Repa
Inspired by Billie Holiday's Song and Album
Oil on Acrylic Board, 40 x 47"
$600
CHERYL TOLES
Ms. Toles’ collection of work includes a mixture of media including oil, acrylic, batik, and watercolor. Uses of texture, relationships of color, exploration of the African American culture and its African roots, strength of human bonds through the family and sexuality, struggle for equality, and the spiritual relationship of ourselves with our higher power are depicted in her body of work.
She received a BA in Art Education from Southern Illinois University and an MBA from Colorado Technical University. She has been employed by the Cook County Criminal Justice System for over 30 years and currently a manager of sworn staff personnel. She is member of Creative Artist Association (2005), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (1977), and National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (2002).
Raising a family became the primary focus for 20 years, in addition to other interests, and Art was placed on the back burner. After having come full circle, she returned to Art with renewed passion. Currently focusing on mediums such as watercolor, pastel, charcoal, acrylic, pencil, and textiles.
She has served on the Board of Chicago's Womanmade Gallery since 2009 and served on the Board of the Creative Artist Association. She is a member of the “Sapphire and Crystals,” a group of respected African-American female artists. Her art has won awards and has been exhibited in many juried shows in Chicago and also in Dallas, Texas.
This is her third exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.
Churchin by Cheryl Toles
Mixed Media with embellishments on Canvas, 30 x 40"
$2,000
Bessie Smith by Cheryl Toles
Mixed Media, 22 x 18"
$600
The blues emerged in the years following the American Civil War in the rural southern states of America. Influenced by “spirituals” and gospel songs, many blues singers started in church. Some say the blues and gospel are two sides of the same coin. Many gospel songs have been transformed into blues or soul songs, and vice versa.
Jazz was born in New Orleans around the same time as blues and was influenced by blues, ragtime, and Cuban/Spanish culture. The earliest jazz recordings date back to the 1910s. The Original Dixieland Jazz Band was the first band to record jazz music. Jazz became popular during the Roaring Twenties.
Jazz and Blues music are uniquely American, combining African and European musical concepts.
© 2025 Anatomically Correct. No text or photograph contained in the pages of this website may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the artist and/or Anatomically Correct.
Founded in 1991, Anatomically Correct is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to showcasing works by artists in alternative spaces in a combined effort to educate, diversify, and promote community awareness of the visual and performing arts.
Anatomically Correct is partially supported by the following:
Skokie Park District and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council
through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information or to purchase artwork, please contact:
Anatomically Correct Arts at
