Friday, June 6, 2008 10:04 PM CDT
Art show dedicated to Woods' memory
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writerrstroud@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — The house at 1148 Sixth St. was overflowing with books when Tanya Wood operated her Lincoln Book Shop there.
The house has often been filled to overflowing with the works of local artists since Jennifer Black opened her Paper Cafe gallery there in January 2004. She leased the property from Tanya and Leonard Wood, long-time patrons and promoters of the arts in Charleston.
“Tanya would be so incredibly happy with her. If anyone could do what Tanya wanted (Black) is doing it,” said artist Ernie Whitworth of Charleston.
Black and Whitworth have partnered to honor the memory of Leonard and Tanya Wood, who were killed in a March 2004 car accident. “A Page from the Ledge of Ernie’s View” exhibit of Whitworth’s work is scheduled to open tonight at the Paper Cafe. The exhibit is dedicated in memory of the couple.
An opening reception is planned for 7-10 p.m. today at the gallery, located a block north of Eastern Illinois University’s campus. Acoustic guitar entertainment will be part of the reception.
Tanya Wood opened the Lincoln Book Shop in 1962 along Lincoln Avenue, operated it in the 1970s-80s at 1148 Sixth St., and moved the shop to its present location on the north side of the courthouse square in 1987.
In 1991, the Woods helped found the Charleston Alley Theatre in a building they owned off the northeast corner of the square. The theatre’s lobby has served as a gallery over the years for the works of local artists, including the couple’s friend Whitworth.
“I just really appreciate everything they did,” Black said. She purchased the Paper Cafe building from the couple’s children.
Black said the Woods enjoyed promoting the arts and so does she. Black said the upcoming exhibit provides a way to honor their memory and to spotlight Whitworth’s varied artwork.
Many residents may only know Whitworth for his work with ornaments and other pewter objects, Black said. Several years have passed since Whitworth last took part in an art show, she added.
Whitworth has a master’s degree in fine arts, which he received from Rutgers University in New Jersey. He has taught art classes at the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College of Chicago and Eastern Illinois University.
The exhibit includes a tall welded steel sculpture, an old-fashioned refrigerator door and other objects covered with neatly written text, scarecrow- and grandfather clock-like displays assembled from found objects, and many other works.
While Black looked over how this artwork was arranged within the gallery Thursday afternoon, Whitworth looked over the house itself. The artist said he spent a lot of time there when it was home to the Lincoln Book Shop.
“For me, this is very cool. I know this building inside and out,” Whitworth said.
For more information on the Paper Cafe, go online to www.myspace.com/thepapercafe.
Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 348-5734.
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