1979.
Art Fair by Albert Pounian
Chicago Tribune, September 8, 1957
Mark McMahon
The Deer Path Art League was established on September 22, 1954 by creative-minded residents of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. The non-profit organization sought to provide opportunities for artists in the area as well as raise awareness and appreciation of the arts in the community.
The first meeting brought together 14 people at Mary F. Stuessy’s home (Moffett Rd in Lake Bluff). Among the founders were John Schneider, Orvo Helander, Catherine Curren, and Fred Shafer.
On October 24th, 1954, the second meeting was held at the Deer Path Middle School with 100 locals present. The first official leaders were Boyd Hill (president), committee chairpersons, and an advisory committee of Sylvia Shaw Judson, Franz Schulze, and Mrs. E. W. Enthof. Others involved in the early days were Mrs. William R. Odell and Franklin McMahon.
Albert Pounian, an artist and assistant professor of art at Barat College (Lake Forest College) taught their first 10-week series of art workshops in the spring of 1955.
The first outdoor exhibit was located in Market Square on September 11, 1955 which featured 25 invited artists with space designated for 50 members from the organization. The first fair was successful and had 1,500 visitors attending the exhibits including Daniel Cott Rich (director) and Mrs. Katherine Kuh (curator of the modern painting department) of the Art Institute of Chicago. The show also captivated one of Chicago’s distinguished art collectors named Mrs. Sam Marx.
The DPAL’s first gallery opened December 19, 1963 at 179 E. Deerpath, displaying works by area artists. In 1968, the gallery moved to Market Square, where it was located until 1984, when it moved half a block south to Market Square
Court. By 2009, the gallery had reopened at Gorton Community Center.
Court. By 2009, the gallery had reopened at Gorton Community Center.
In the mid 1960s, the non-profit organization started having Spring Art Shows of Chicago artists, board members, Lake Forest College students, and the Lake Forest Garden Club Flower Show displayed in the library. One of the Spring Art
Shows was the “Hairy Who” Show by Ed Paschke, a Chicago artist, and staged by board member Marion Pawlick. Triangle Park was used for a show/fair on Sept. 17, 1966. In the coming years until the early 1980s, the Spring Shows of DPAL members art were held at the Lake Forest Club.
Shows was the “Hairy Who” Show by Ed Paschke, a Chicago artist, and staged by board member Marion Pawlick. Triangle Park was used for a show/fair on Sept. 17, 1966. In the coming years until the early 1980s, the Spring Shows of DPAL members art were held at the Lake Forest Club.
The DPAL has continued their tradition of the Art Fair on the Square for 65 years. They advocate the works of local artists in a wide assortment of media. The artwork is judged by a council of artists to select the finest works for the fair’s awards. There are professional and amateur categories for the art fair.
They support numerous art shows and exhibits and offer classes and workshops in their studios at the Gorton Community Center. The League makes donations of sculptures and other art to bring art “enrichment” to the city of Lake Forest. They are considered to be the oldest gallery in Lake Forest.