Artist’s Statement    

One Clear Moment 

I like the way painting can be a way to learn what we’re thinking – what we’ve been carrying around unnoticed, or consciously trying to avoid, or simply what we truly believe and know.   And I like the way it always teaches us more surely what we may have been mulling over for a while but were never quite able to bring to the surface and express in words.  I like learning this language.

These things I know now: that some of my images have had their beginnings in plants that never cease to amaze me – leaves, seed pods, dead heads, blooms –  as well as folded and layered and draped paper; transparent globes of jellyfish; translucent chrysalis shells.bAnd I know that ideas for the paintings come to me from many different directions, yet they nearly always fall into a few common themes. The images I find as I work seem to represent inner secrets – the parts we often hide, feel the need to protect – our dearest wishes, our truest passions, our deepest hopes, our most essential needs. And so, paint becomes vulnerable hearts tucked within soft, safe walls; creative fires held close inside rings of habit and routine; symbolic spaces between all of us maintained through lack of effort, lack of communication, lack of courage.

Many times the structures of the paintings take on an inner core and outer skin, torn covers  and veils that    peel back to reveal hidden layers, strands and tendrils and sprouts that find ways out of sealed compartments and cells. And so I think the paintings must be about growth, emergence, reaching out, opening as much as they are about holding in, nurturing, saving, locking away. I like to see how these ideas take shape, find color.  I like to read them and take their small lessons to heart.  And sometimes, a painting will emerge that teaches me exactly what I always knew and wanted to say. One lesson I carry from working on the paintings is that in the end, what means most, what  lasts longest, are those rare moments that surprise us, like answered prayers, when all the opposites align, when all the secrets are easily revealed, when all is in balance, and we feel right and true and clear. 

And so some of the paintings are about that, too.  A kind of thank you for such moments, a kind of saying grace. 

~ Claudia Craemer

Solo and Group Exhibitions and Awards

2013

"Sync" Ehxibit of Art by Union Street Gallery Studio Artists and Staff , Homewood, IL

"32 Paintings - Solo Exhibit by Claudia Craemer", Fresh Starts Restaurant, Flossmoor, IL

2012

"Twelfth Month", Regional Invitational Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

"13th Annual Juried Fall Art Exhibit", Gretchen Charlton Art Gallery, Kankakee, IL

"Seventeen Pieces", Atrium Gallery and Big Walls Gallery, Governors State University, University Park, IL

"Insider Art", Union Street Gallery's Studio and Guild Artists Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Sanctuary - Works by Union Street Gallery Studio Artists”, South Shore Arts, Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Munster, IN

2011

"Twelfth Month", Regional Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Five Paintings by Claudia Craemer”, Pickwick Society Tea Room, Frankfort, IL

“12th Annual Juried Fall Art Exhibit”, Honorable Mention, Gretchen Charlton Art Gallery, Kankakee, IL

“Falling for Art Fall Exhibition, SD Studio 123, Cullom, IL

"Collective", Studio and Guild Artists Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

" Debut", Members Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Gallery 2011”, Juried Exhibit, Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, Palos Heights, IL

“In Harmony”, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“67th Annual Salon Show”, South Shore Arts at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Munster, IN

“24 Maximum”, Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL

“8 Paintings - Solo Exhibit”, Frankfort Public Library, Frankfort, IL

2010      

“Twelfth Month”, Regional Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“11th Annual Juried Fall Art Exhibit”, 3rd Place, Gretchen Charlton Gallery, Kankakee, IL

“Gallery 2010” – Honorable Mention, Juried Exhibit, Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, Palos Heights, IL

“Synergy”, Works by Union Street Studio Artists, Christopher Art Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“PAIRS”, Invitational Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Image Attitude Impression”, National Juried Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Studio and Guild Artists Exhibit – Winter”, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

2009         

“Twelfth Month”, Regional Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Cephalic Symbols 4”, Benefit Auction for Ed Paschke Foundation, Judy Saslow Gallery, Chicago, IL

“red” – Purchase Award, Gallery 180 of the Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, IL        

 “66th Annual Salon Show” – Suzanne Cooley Award of Excellence, South Shore Arts at the

Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Munster, IN

“10th Annual Juried Fall Art Exhibit” - Second Place Award, Gretchen Charlton Gallery, Kankakee, IL

“Here and Now”, Annual Gallery Artists Exhibit, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL

“50/50” – Regional Invitational Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Gallery 2009” – Juried Exhibit – Best of Show, Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, Palos Heights, IL

“Multiplicity”, Spring National Juried Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Studio and Guild Artists Exhibit – Spring”, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Process”, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

2008         

“Halleluiah”, Regional Art Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Winter Solstice”, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL

“9th Annual Juried Fall Art Exhibit” – 1st Place, Gretchen Charlton Gallery, Kankakee, IL

“Studio and Guild Artists Exhibit – Fall”, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Whiskers & Tails”, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“53rd Annual Gallery Artists Exhibition”, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL

“Gallery 2008” – Juried Exhibit – 3rd Place, Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, Palos Heights, IL

“Dreams&Visions”, Fall National Juried Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Studio and Guild Artists Exhibit – Spring”, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“The Essence of Color”, McCord Gallery and Cultural Center, Palos Park IL. 

“Studio and Guild Artists Exhibit – Winter”, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

2007         

“Halleluiah”, Regional Art Exhibit,  Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“8th Annual Juried Fall Art Exhibit” – 2nd Place, Gretchen Charlton Gallery, Kankakee, IL

“Collaborative Arts Guild Exhibit - Fall”, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Collaborative Arts Guild Exhibit”, Fresh Starts Restaurant, Flossmoor, IL               

“Crossroads – Altered History” – Regional Invitational Exhibit, Union Street Gallery,

Chicago Heights, IL

“52nd Annual Gallery Artists Exhibition”, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL

“Gallery 2007” – Juried Exhibit, Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, Palos Heights, IL

“Out of the Box”, Invitational Exhibit, Christopher Art Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“Square Art Competition”, Sanctuary Gallery, Clifton, IL

“Collaborative Arts Guild Exhibit - Spring”, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL   

“2nd Annual Artists Who Teach Exhibit”, Gallery Two Eighteen, Oak Lawn, IL

“This Brand New Day”, Solo Exhibit, Finestra Art Space, Fine Arts Building, Chicago, IL

“Second Year Anniversary Invitational Exhibit”, 33 Collective Gallery, Chicago, IL

2006         

“Aha! Epiphanies & Breakthroughs”, National Juried Exhibit, Union Street Gallery, Chicago

Heights, IL

“7th Annual Juried Fall Art Exhibit”, Gretchen Charlton Art Gallery, Kankakee, IL

“51st Annual Juried Artists Exhibition”, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL

“Gallery 2006” – Juried Exhibit, Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, Palos Heights, IL

“Home and Garden”, Invitational Water Media Exhibit, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL        

“2nd Annual National Juried Self-Portrait Exhibit”, 33 Collective Gallery, Chicago, IL

“Inaugural Group Exhibition”, EXPGallery, Chicago, IL

“Uno”, First Year Anniversary Invitational Exhibit, 33 Collective Gallery, Chicago, IL

2005         

“6th Annual Juried Exhibit” - Third Place, Gretchen Charlton Art Gallery, Kankakee, IL  

“62nd Annual Salon Show” – Award of Merit, Northern Indiana Center for the Visual and

Performing Arts, Munster, IN  

“Gallery 2005” –Juried Exhibit - Honorable Mention, Robert F.  DeCaprio Art Gallery, Palos Heights, IL

2004

Juried Drawing Exhibit - Honorable Mention, Christopher Art Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

“5th Annual Juried Exhibit” – Third Place, Gretchen Charlton Art Gallery, Kankakee, IL

“One Clear Moment” – Solo Exhibit, Larsen Fine Arts Gallery, Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL

“Gallery 2004” - Juried Exhibit, Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, Palos Heights, IL

“Installation Show”, Visual Arts Gallery, Governors State University, University Park, IL

 Annual Student Art Exhibit, Visual Arts Gallery, Governors State University, University Park, IL   

“SICA Conference High School Faculty Art Exhibit”, Lee Dulgar Art Gallery, South Holland, IL  

2003     

“4th Annual Juried Exhibit” – Best of Show, Gretchen Charlton Art Gallery, Kankakee, IL        

“Gallery 2003” - Juried Exhibit - Honorable Mention, Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery,

Palos Heights, IL      

Annual Student Exhibit, Visual Arts Gallery, Governors State University, University Park, IL   

“SICA Conference High School Faculty Art Exhibit”, Lee Dulgar Art Gallery, South Holland, IL

“Let There Be Light” - Juried Exhibit, Christopher Art Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

1990-2002

“A View of Elegance” - 3rd Annual Juried Exhibit, Gretchen Charlton Art Gallery, and Kankakee, IL

“Gallery 2002” - Juried Exhibit - Honorable Mention, Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery, Palos Heights, IL                 

“Governors State University Faculty and Select Alumni Exhibit”, Northern Indiana Center for the Visual  and Performing Arts, Munster, IN   2002

“SICA Conference High School Faculty Art Exhibits” – 1998 -2002, Lee Dulgar Art Gallery, South Holland, IL   

Annual Student Exhibits – 1991-94, 1996-98, 2000-02, Visual Arts Gallery, GSU, University Park, IL

“Seeking Balance” - One Person Exhibit – 1994, Visual Arts Gallery, GSU, University Park, IL

Two-Person Exhibit - 1994, Northern Indiana Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, Munster, IN

“Annual Salon Shows” - Juried Exhibits – 1992, 1994, Northern Indiana Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, Munster, IN Kankakee Area Juried Art Exhibits – 1993, Best of Show, 1992, Honorable Mention, Kankakee, IL 

Work Experience     

Community High School District 218

Teacher:  AP and Honors Art Studio, Drawing and Painting,    Advanced Drawing  and Painting,Art Fundamentals

Sponsor/Organizer:  H. L. Richards Art Club; Richards Annual Student Art Exhibit;

High School Student Exhibitions at Northern Illinois University, South Suburban College,Moraine Valley Community College, Scholastics Art Awards at Elmhurst Art Museum and other venues

Member:  Richards Principal’s Council, All-American Day Committee, School Improvement Committee, Reading Improvement Committee, and various Curriculum Committees            

Related Experience       

Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL : 2007–present

Curator: "MICHAEL GORO: Urban Myths", January 201

Curator: "IF LIFE WERE STILL - Works by Lorraine Sack, Tanya Gadbaw, Richard Laurent" Summer, 2012

Curator: “THE ARTISTS’ MARKS - Works by Richard Benoit, Akiko Thorson, Gary Thomas” Fall, 2010

Curator: “NINA WEISS Not Far Off” Summer, 2010                    

Resident Studio Artist                     

Member, Collaborative Arts Guild                     

Member: Union Street Exhibit Calendar Committee

Designer: Union Street Gift Shop

Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL : 2005-2009

Curator: “LAND MARKS: Restoration and Regeneration, Nikkole Huss and Heather Page”  Spring, 2009                                                

Curator: “MOONLIGHT TALES – Sculptures and Installations by Nnenna Okore”                 Fall, 2008           

Co-Curator: “this good earth”  Summer, 2008

Curator:  “INK, Works from the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative”  Fall, 2007

Curator:  “LAYERS, Works by Artists from the Midwest Collage Society” Spring,     2007

Co-Curator: “WITHIN AND BEYOND: Interpretations of the Grid” Fall, 2006

Designer: Gallery Exhibits

Manager: Tall Grass Gift Shop

Member:  Gallery, Program and Installation Committees

Tall Grass Juried Gallery Artist

Educational Outreach Director

Docent: exhibit tours – elementary, secondary, college and adult levels      

Contributor:  articles to area newspapers, Tall Grass Newsletter

Creator:  informational flyers sent regularly to area art educators, artists, and Tall Grass members 

Gallery Volunteer

Homewood Art Fair, Flossmoor, IL:
Judge: 31st Annual Homewood Art Fair, 2012

Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL: 2010

Curator: “Synergy” Works by Union Street Studio Artists, Summer 2010

Beverly Art Center, Chicago, IL:

Judge: South Suburban Conference High School Art Exhibit 2007

Juror: Midwest Collage Society - The Fine Art of Collage 2012