Myriad floating plastic garbage and other debri works its way into our Great Lakes ecosystem every day. Bringing awareness as to how our water supply and recreational areas in the communities surrounding the Great Lakes is affected by litter is an important first step toward working to solve the problem of keeping this wonderful fresh water resource clean and healthy. Please visit greatlakes.org for more information about how you can help.

The Green Line Series is a collection of collages depicting the diversity of commuters who ride the train every day to and from Oak Park and downtown Chicago. Growing up in Oak Park and taking the train downtown to go shopping or to museums as a child always gave me a feeling of excitement and anticipation. I now look at my fellow passengers during my daily commute and cannot help but wonder where are they going? How are they feeling? What are they thinking about?

Maps are a leveling device that people of all races, genders and ages share. We rely on maps, whether paper or digital as they help us decide where to go and what to see. Maps represent connections between people who share and experience the same places. Maps also represent the beauty of both natural and man made places. These abstractions of maps bring that beauty to us in a different way.

Finding myself without supplies one day at a figure drawing session, I turned to the chip board backings of my drawing pads and some acrylic paints I was using to teach my kids art classes. The luminescent effect on the cardboard and the way the paint absorbed into the surface was startling. It created a mood of abnormal normalcy in the figures caught in a pleasant neon-like moment.

This collection of work was made by children ages 3-12 in Frick Kids Art classes. It has always been a goal of Frick’s to teach children to make and appreciate fine art. Artists such as Oldenburg, O’Keefe, Picasso, Giacometti, Delaunay and Miro are used as examples and inspiration in Frick Kids Art lessons.

While teaching a children's art class, I had leftover paper mache paste, newspaper and foam board, I decided during a figure drawing session to tackle making some paper mache friezes of the models. This then turned into making what I call "grown up paper mache" full size sculptures.

Inspired by nature, these delicate, small sculptures can be used as baskets for rolls, candy, rings and other small things.