Chicago, IL

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Anne Nordhaus-Bike, Artist-in-Residence for Curves of Brookfield, IL, for 2009, is displaying her oil painting Moonrise at that Curves location in July.

As artist-in-residence, Nordhaus-Bike premiers paintings in small monthly shows that open on the first weekday of each month, with paintings chosen to reflect themes associated with the month in which they appear.

Curves of Brookfield is located at 3734 Grand Blvd., Brookfield, IL 60513, (708) 485-1616, curvesofbrookfield@sbcglobal.net. Although Curves of Brookfield is a women's gym, men and children as well as women are welcome at any time to view Nordhaus-Bike's artwork during Curves hours of operation: Monday through Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:15 to 7:15 p.m.; Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 8 to 11 a.m.

"I'm thrilled to have chosen Anne as our artist-in-residence," said Curves of Brookfield owner Jennifer Vydra. "Her art makes our atmosphere even more pleasant during workouts and helps attract the public to our retail business area in Brookfield."

"Curves is a wonderful place to work out and a great Brookfield business, so it gives me great pleasure to show my art there," Nordhaus-Bike said. "I believe in bringing art to where people are, making it part of their everyday lives, so Curves offers a perfect venue that is highly accessible to the public."

Nordhaus-Bike discussed Moonrise

"One night while heading south on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, a glance to the east gave me a breathtaking view of the full Moon rising over the dark waters of Lake Michigan," she said. "That vision has haunted me since and inspired me to capture my emotional response to it, first in watercolor and then a second time in oil.

"Measuring 12 inches high by 27 inches wide, the painting has a sharply horizontal format that represents a significant departure for me--many of my oil paintings measure 16 by 20 inches--and a desire to work with a shape that evokes Midwestern flatness. In this case, the width helps reinforce the feeling that the lake stretches out, seemingly forever, in a dark blue mystery penetrated only by moonlight.

"For me, this painting also calls to mind the astrological sign Cancer (which is ruled by the emotional, intuitive, ever changing Moon), making it a natural choice for this month's exhibit because the Sun currently is in Cancer (as it is each year from late June through most of July)," Nordhaus-Bike concluded.

Nordhaus-Bike, who lives and works in the Clearing/Garfield Ridge community on the Southwest Side of Chicago, also displays the works in her monthly Curves shows on her web site. The "Top News" section at the top of her home page has details and a link to the Gallery, where viewers will find the July painting.

Her original oils and watercolors are available for purchase; posters and greeting cards featuring her art also are available. Go to www.anbcommunications.com, e-mail info@anbcommunications.com, or call (773) 229-0024. -30-

Anne Nordhaus-Bike

ANB Communications

Chicago, IL

773-229-0024