Skokie Public Library Permanent Art Collection
Title
Skokie Public Library Permanent Art Collection
Description
Skokie Public Library’s permanent art collection began in the late 1960s and has grown steadily since then from a small collection of paintings by emerging Chicago artists to an eclectic mix of large-scale sculptures, paintings, prints, and tapestries from local, national, and international artists.
Through a combination of gifts from generous private donors and assisting funds from the Illinois Arts Council, each work of art in the library enlivens the walls and courtyards of this award-winning building, providing visitors with visual inspiration.
Through a combination of gifts from generous private donors and assisting funds from the Illinois Arts Council, each work of art in the library enlivens the walls and courtyards of this award-winning building, providing visitors with visual inspiration.
Collection Items
Swans
Sculpture of a continuous curved piece of polished and burnished stainless steel with a double loop effect reminiscent of swimming swans. The piece was commissioned specifically for placement in the Water Court on the Library’s First Floor. Weighing…
Iron Mountain, Michigan No. 3
Abstract acrylic painting in red, turquoise, blue, orange, black, and brown with rectangular shapes in the center.Originally from Detroit, Carl E. Schwartz (1935-2014) studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Chicago. He taught…
Henry Harms Historic Home in Skokie
Oil painting depicts the house owned by Henry Harms, the founder of Skokie in 1854. The 1869 farmhouse, built of hand-made brick, is shown with a porch and tall trees covered with colorful autumn leaves. This painting was commissioned by the Skokie…
Yellow Dome
Abstract painting in green, magenta, gray, and ochre. Signed bottom right, "H. Mintz".Harry Mintz (1907-2002) was born in Poland and trained at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. He moved to Chicago in 1934 and taught at the Art Institute of Chicago…
Semi Nude with Zooples #5
Hand-embellished print of a large orange and yellow flower on the top left with a semi-nude figure at the center. Signed top right, "Max"."Zooples" is the name Peter Max has given to the little squiggles he often includes in his work. This print was…
Chicago River
Painting of the Chicago River with a bridge in the foreground and buildings in the background. Undated.Hilda Rubin Pierce was born in Vienna, Austria in 1923, but left for England in 1938, when Hitler took over Austria. She later moved to Chicago and…
Wall Hanging
Wool wall hanging is composed of bright pinks and reds with pale orange, olive green, and yellow. Overall amorphous shapes with one large circle in the top center. Long fringe at the bottom. Hung from a carved walnut wood dowel. Donated to the…
Petrified Journey One Thru Ten
Abstract acrylic painting in gray and white in the upper portion in a wave effect. Red, orange, and blue wavy pattern in the lower left. Signed on the bottom right, “Tuna 1 May 1977.” Gift in memory of James O. Burke, Andy Frain, and John R. Sobeck.…
Carousel
Painted in 1959, this early work of world-renowned artist LeRoy Neiman depicts horses in different positions on a carousel painted with broad brush strokes in many colors. It was donated to the Library in 1978 by a couple who visited and appreciated…
Gideon and Auerbach
Long, narrow, vertical wall tapestry in browns, beige, and gray, depicting used artist's paintbrushes. In background top "Carte Postale.” This piece is number 8 of an edition of 16 tapestries woven in Belgium on Jacquard looms. Alan Magee began…
Comments