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SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7 | SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8 2019
SUNDAY BREAKFAST
Paula Danoff gets hall of fame distinction. P18
SOCIAL SCENE
SPORTS
Loyola Academy’s Spencer Werner churns to distance double at Junior Olympics. P17
The Gallery in Lake Forest hosts local artists. P10 FOLLOW US:
NO. 360 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION
NEWS
Top Props WILMETTE’S ACTORS TRAINING CENTER IS HONORED ON THE RED CARPET. EDITED BY SHERRY THOMAS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Carole Dibo, founder of Actors Training Center (ATC) of Wilmette, took to the stage on August 24 to accept Illinois Theatre Association’s (ITA) 2019 Award of Honor “It is true that we “train to work,” but we do it with a keen eye to the young actor and what their needs are,” she told the audience at ITA’s Red Carpet Gala at Drury Lane Theater in Oak Brook. “We create a safe place for them to be and celebrate themselves. When they walk through our doors there are no ‘cheerleaders’ or ‘football players’ or ‘geeks.’ We encourage and expect them to just be themselves because when the industry comes looking for them they must be there.” Each year the ITA recognizes both individuals and organizations for their significant contributions of promoting quality theater in Illinois. Recipients are nominated by the Illinois theater community, approved by ITA’s divisional representatives, and accepted by ITA’s Board of Directors. This year, ITA awarded its highest honor to Dibo and the ATC for its educational contribution to the Chicago theater community. ITA President and Harper College’s Associate Professor of Theatre Kevin Long nominated ATC for the award and presented it to the organization at the event. He spoke of the impressive history Continued on PG 8
THE ART OF CRAFT
THE 35TH ANNUAL AMERICAN CRAFT EXPOSITION SHOW THIS MONTH SUPPORTS ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE. BY MONICA KASS ROGERS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
The morning light filtering in from the front window at Jeff Miller’s handcrafted furniture gallery is soft—soft as the finish and gentle curves that beckon from the designer craftsman’s elegant chairs. Each was born of a constellation of inspirations that Miller has drawn from for 35 years, creating furnishings that are works of art. The best in the collection are being readied for transport to Miller’s first time showing at the American Craft Exposition (ACE), celebrating its 35th year September 20 through 22 at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “Why did I wait so long to be in a show?” muses Miller. “I’ve been so focused on the creation, I guess. But it was time. ACE is a wonderful showcase.” And the health care causes ACE supports make participation in the show even more meaningful to Miller. Educated at Yale University, and the Eastman School of Music, classical trumpeter Miller performed internationally with groups such as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Chamber Brass. But he was tragically sidelined from his musical career at 27, when he was
diagnosed with kidney disease. It was Miller’s memories of the pleasure that early adventures in woodworking brought that sent him back to the tool bench, helping him segue to the new form of artistic expression that would become his life’s work. “With music, you’ve got a bunch of notes on a page that tell you what you are supposed to play, but that’s the merest beginning of what makes a beautiful composition. It’s very much the same with furniture,” he says. “Anyone can find plans for something and build it, but there is so much more that can be expressed than mere dimensions. Small details that you turn this way and that. One curve that works large scale may repeat in small scale. It all relates. There are themes and variations. Every line is significant. Each chair is a separate exploration of how to juggle the elements to make something structurally sound, comfortable and visually exciting.” Miller is one of 25 equally passionate artists new to the ACE this year, joining 125 more who will introduce more than 8,000 expected attendees to new works of art and craft at the event. Presented by the Auxiliary of NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore), the highly competitive Continued on PG 8
Jeff Miller PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA KASS ROGERS
September 20–22, 2019 Chicago Botanic Garden americancraftexpo.org benefiting
Thomas Turner
NorthShore University HealthSystem
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 991 HIGHLAND PK, IL