NCI ARTworks in Peru to host ‘A Brush with Art’ featuring 3 local artists

NCI ARTworks to host an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, for the month-long exhibition called “A Brush with Art,” featuring the work of Bill Swisher of Spring Valley, Earlene Campbell of Princeton and Gayle Akerman of Streator.

The exhibition is free and all are welcome.

Born and raised in Mendota, Spring Valley resident Bill Swisher always loved art and its many mediums. As a young man, he took lessons from talented local instructors, including Victor Wedemyer who was a teacher in Mendota High School and portrait artist Edith Steincross who was a neighbor in Mendota. In addition, he often sketched and painted the sites that he visited as a sailor in the U.S. Navy. Images from ports of call abound in his artistic repertoire: Haiti, Venice, France, Italy and Greece.

Gayle Akerman’s artwork is inspired by her experiences, both abroad and at home. She is intrigued by the small wonders of everyday life, finding beauty in everything from an old, weathered fence post, the last rose of summer or a street scene in Italy. As a child, Akerman was encouraged to develop her skills by her art teacher who gave her an old canvas over which she painted a self-portrait that won first place in a local competition. As she matured, she began working in oil and has produced hundreds of paintings in both acrylics and oil.

Princeton-area artist Earlene Campbell began painting as a young woman and as she entered her seventh decade, she began concentrating primarily on subjects that made her — and everyone around her — smile. Many of her paintings are whimsical, featuring fantastical creatures depicted in bright, vibrant colors. As she honed her skills by watching YouTube videos, she discovered pour painting. She then began to produce art with this medium, creating a successful small business she called “Art After 80” as a delightful play on words referring to her age and her location (near Interstate 80). Her approach to pour painting is different from traditional paint pours in that she uses the pour as the base for creating realistic images on the poured canvas. Her work graces the homes and businesses of many residents.

The opening reception for the month-long exhibit will take place at the NCI ARTworks Gallery, 400 F Street, in the west wing of the Westclox Building. The gallery is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and private viewings of the exhibit can be arranged by emailing outreach@nciartworks.com.