The Evanston Art Center (EAC) is excited to welcome the public to Thank You Notes.

Nina Irwin (b.1965) was surrounded by classical music, art and literature growing up. This richly creative setting provided the ideal ground for her to develop her own interests in a wide range of artistic disciplines. Her favorite painting subject is the natural world. She paints vast skies and textured, craggy grounds. Sometimes architectural ruins appear amidst an imaginative landscape, but never assert themselves as anything more than a peaceful partner to the natural beauty of the surrounding vista. Nina’s works suggest the subjects of spirituality and the search for truth and beauty.

Thank You Notes comes from her deep sense of gratitude and connection. “I have started almost every day in my studio writing and painting thank you notes for over thirty years. I am thankful for the funny, smart, generous and inspiring human beings who help me better my life. These paintings are a culmination of visual and conceptual gratitude from as far back as childhood. Life is hard! It presents us with many obstacles. Even though problems are useful as points of growth in our lives, we appreciate help. These artworks are dedicated to the human beings who have helped me to keep going, inspired me to overcome, and ignited my God-given creativity. They are nothing more than that, and nothing less.”

Nina Irwin works from her painting and ceramics studio in the historic stockyards of Kansas City. She received her B.A. in Studio Art from University of Missouri – Kansas City. In addition to her studio work, Nina teaches art and art history classes from her Kansas City studio as well as at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She is represented in private and corporate art collections globally.

Thank You Notes will be exhibited in the Main Second Floor Gallery of the Art Center. The opening reception is free and open to the public. This exhibition is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the EAC’s general membership.

Evanston Art Center, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, is dedicated to fostering the appreciation and expression of the arts among diverse audiences. The Art Center offers extensive and innovative instruction in broad areas of artistic endeavor through classes, exhibitions, interactive arts activities, and community outreach initiatives.

Evanston Art Center is located at 1717 Central Street, Evanston, IL. Evanston Art Center Gallery Hours: Monday –Thursday 9am – 6pm; Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am – 4pm. First and second floor gallery spaces are accessible. Limited free parking is available.

For more information, please visit us online at www.evanstonartcenter.org or contact Emma Rose Gudewicz, Director of Development & Exhibition Manager, at (847) 475-5300 or egudewicz@evanstonartcenter.org.

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