September 2004 Newsletter

"Just do it." — Nike

In This Issue

• September 2004 Journal
• What's New @ the CP
• Spotlight: Paint Quality Institute

September 2004 Journal

An Art*full Adventure

Imagine walking down a busy street in downtown Chicago and happening upon a large wall of unusual graffiti. Wait a minute, that's not the work of an urban street artist, that's "The Four Seasons" mosaic by Marc Chagall!

I spent last Tuesday on a self-imposed field trip to the city I've lived on the outskirts of for 32 years. In elementary school, our suburban field trips always took us into the Windy City to the Museums, Zoos, and during puberty, the dreaded Robert Crown Health Center.

Tuesday's trip was all about art. A chance to visit with my artistic nephew. A trip to the Art Institute. A walk through the sculpture-laden Millennium Park. A view from a tall building. And the chance to enjoy the city with nephew and hublet in smart walking shoes and relaxed eyes. Everything was really fun, except that one cab ride … and the parking ticket at the train station.

The Chicago Art Institute is featuring an exhibition through September 19 called "Seurat and the Making of La Grande Jatte." Seurat is the artist who pioneered the painting technique called pointillism, painting in colored dots to produce an optical color mixture that blends in the mind's eye.

From the site:

"A Sunday on La Grande Jatte-1884 is one of the most beloved, famous, and frequently reproduced paintings in the world. Seen by tens of millions of viewers since it entered the Art Institute's collection in 1924, the painting is an icon and a destination in itself for visitors. This exhibition of approximately 130 paintings and works on paper at once celebrates and sheds new light on Georges Seurat's masterpiece by bringing together approximately 45 of the artist's paintings and drawings related to the picture-from rich, yet delicate, conté crayon studies to oil sketches on small wood panels to nearly full-size paintings."

And guess what? You don't have to come all the way to Chicago to enjoy this exhibition. You can visit the Art Institute's Web site and enjoy an online preview of the exhibition right now.

• Mosaicing Along: My Chicago Adventure
• Art Institute's Seurat Exhibition

Happy September!

Chris

What's New @ the CP

Home Decorating Toolbox 101
By Home Decorating Digest
Save time and frustration by assembling your own decorating toolbox.

Mastering the Creative Art of Holiday Décor
By Lise Richards
It seems like it starts earlier every year.

Painting 101: Select the Right Sheen for Your Paint Project
By Gail McCauley
One of the basic considerations prior to the start of an impending paint project is to determine the ideal sheen, or gloss level for the paint job.

Remodeling Trends Offer Personalization and Longevity
By Gail McCauley
In addition to concern for home improvements adding value to their existing homes, homeowners are also dramatically interested in transforming their homes into comfortable and functional living spaces.

Journaling: A Perfect Way to Enhance Your Child's Literary Skills
By Day Penaflor
Call it a journal, a diary, a spy pad, a writer's notebook, or a daybook. Whichever name you prefer, they all mean the same thing: a fun, personal, perfect way to enhance your child's reading and writing skills.

Spotlight

Paint Quality Institute
The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute was formed by Rohm and Haas Company in 1989 to educate homeowners on the advantages of using quality paints on their homes.