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Tag: BASE

April 16 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Initiatives

Public Arts Programs
$20.00

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

21850 Riverwoods Rd.
Riverwoods, IL 60015 United States + Google Map
224.633.2424

BASE: Create & Sip – Painted Umbrellas

Create & Sip is a monthly workshop hosted at Brushwood Center where participants can explore fun projects using supplies and tools from the Brushwood Art Supply Exchange, BASE. It’s an opportunity to get creative, try something new, and enjoy the company of fellow art enthusiasts in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

This month’s class will be led by Brushwood’s Director of Art and Administration, Julia Kemerer. Students will spend a fun night creating and leave with a one-of-a-kind hand-painted umbrella! Plus, you’ll take home newfound skills and inspiration to continue your crafting journey beyond the class.

Everyone’s project will be unique, and creativity is highly encouraged. We will have a variety of materials available to use for your project, but if you have something of your own you would like to bring and try to incorporate into your artwork, you are welcome to bring it!

No experience necessary, all skill levels are welcome.

What to Bring:

  • Your favorite beverage (alcohol is allowed for those 21 +)
  • Some snacks to enjoy as you immerse yourself in the creative process
  • Your friends (make sure they register!)
  • Any extra supplies you want to incorporate into your project (Optional! We have lots of supplies!)

Questions? Please contact Director of Public Programs and Music, Parker Nelson at pnelson@brushwoodcenter.org

$20/person. Please register by April 13. BYOB. This class is also offered on Wednesday, April 15.

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April 15 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Initiatives

Public Arts Programs
$20.00

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

21850 Riverwoods Rd.
Riverwoods, IL 60015 United States + Google Map
224.633.2424

BASE: Create & Sip – Painted Umbrellas

Create & Sip is a monthly workshop hosted at Brushwood Center where participants can explore fun projects using supplies and tools from the Brushwood Art Supply Exchange, BASE. It’s an opportunity to get creative, try something new, and enjoy the company of fellow art enthusiasts in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

This month’s class will be led by Brushwood’s Director of Art and Administration, Julia Kemerer. Students will spend a fun night creating and leave with a one-of-a-kind hand-painted umbrella! Plus, you’ll take home newfound skills and inspiration to continue your crafting journey beyond the class.

Everyone’s project will be unique, and creativity is highly encouraged. We will have a variety of materials available to use for your project, but if you have something of your own you would like to bring and try to incorporate into your artwork, you are welcome to bring it!

No experience necessary, all skill levels are welcome.

What to Bring:

  • Your favorite beverage (alcohol is allowed for those 21 +)
  • Some snacks to enjoy as you immerse yourself in the creative process
  • Your friends (make sure they register!)
  • Any extra supplies you want to incorporate into your project (Optional! We have lots of supplies!)

Questions? Please contact Director of Public Programs and Music, Parker Nelson at pnelson@brushwoodcenter.org

$20/person. Please register by April 13. BYOB. This class is also offered on Thursday, April 16.

register

Related Events

March 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Initiatives

Public Arts Programs
$20.00

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

21850 Riverwoods Rd.
Riverwoods, IL 60015 United States + Google Map
224.633.2424

BASE: Create & Sip – Felt Flowers with Julia Kemerer

This class is also offered on March 18!

Create & Sip is a monthly workshop hosted at Brushwood Center where participants can explore fun projects using supplies and tools from the Brushwood Art Supply Exchange, BASE. It’s an opportunity to get creative, try something new, and enjoy the company of fellow art enthusiasts in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

We will use materials and supplies from BASE (the Brushwood Art Supply Exchange) that will include a mix of new materials alongside the repurposed and reimagined. Everyone’s project will be unique, and creativity is highly encouraged. 

​At the end of the class, you’ll leave with your own handmade felt flower bouquet, ready to brighten up any space in your home or serve as a heartfelt gift for a loved one. Plus, you’ll take home newfound skills and inspiration to continue your crafting journey beyond the class. 

We’ll have a variety of supplies and tools available.  No experience necessary, all skill levels are welcome.

What to Bring:

  • Your favorite beverage (alcohol is allowed for those 21 +)
  • Some snacks to enjoy as you immerse yourself in the creative process
  • Your friends (make sure they register!)
  • Any extra supplies you want to incorporate into your project (Optional! We have lots of supplies!)

Questions? Please contact Director of Public Programs and Music, Parker Nelson at pnelson@brushwoodcenter.org

$20/person. Please register by March 15. BYOB. 

register

Related Events

February 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Initiatives

Public Arts Programs
$20.00

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

21850 Riverwoods Rd.
Riverwoods, IL 60015 United States + Google Map
224.633.2424

BASE: Create & Sip – Smashed Dish Mosaics with Julia Kemerer

A second night, due to popular demand!

Create & Sip is a monthly workshop hosted at Brushwood Center where participants can explore fun projects using supplies and tools from the Brushwood Art Supply Exchange, BASE. It’s an opportunity to get creative, try something new, and enjoy the company of fellow art enthusiasts in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

This month’s class will be led by Brushwood’s Director of Art and Administration, Julia Kemerer, who will teach us to repurpose broken dishes into beautiful mosaics. Everyone’s project will be unique, and creativity is highly encouraged. We will have a variety of materials available to use for your project, but if you have something of your own you would like to bring and try to incorporate into your artwork, you are welcome to bring it!


Everyone’s project will be unique. No experience necessary, all skill levels are welcome.

What to Bring:

  • Your favorite beverage (alcohol is allowed for those 21 +)
  • Some snacks to enjoy as you immerse yourself in the creative process
  • Your friends (make sure they register!)
  • Any extra supplies you want to incorporate into your project (Optional! We have lots of supplies!)

Questions? Please contact Director of Public Programs and Music, Parker Nelson at pnelson@brushwoodcenter.org

$20/person. Please register by February 17. BYOB. 

register

Related Events

Meet Jerry Loza

Jerry Loza is an artist who served four years in the Marines after attending Whitney Young High School in Chicago. After his military service, Jerry returned to the Chicago area. He says, “I’m a firm believer in the healing nature of art. I love teaching digital art to help pass along this coping skill.”

You may recognize Jerry’s work from At Ease in Nature, Brushwood’s annual art exhibition featuring Veteran and military community artists, where he has exhibited several times. Jerry also displays his work around the community at galleries and art fairs.

See Jerry’s art on display at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods February 1 – 28, 2026.

Through the Fire, by Jerry Loza
Through the Fire, by Jerry Loza
Media: Digital

Jerry’s Artist Statement

Jerry Loza at his booth at an art fair.

“I always was a pencil and pen artist but stopped many years ago. I started drawing digitally in 2018, but during the COVID lock down I was completing a drawing a week. I’m involved in multiple Veteran art groups. My primary muse is my city, Chicago, but I’ve also
tapped into my heritage and my military background for inspiration.”

Image: Jerry Loza pictured with his work at an art fair.

Artist of the Month Events

A digital drawing of Buckingham Fountain at night.

February 28
10:00 am – 3:00 pm | Free
Open Art Workshop with Jerry Loza

Open Art Workshop is open to anyone who wants to make something in any area of visual arts and crafts, from the experienced artist looking for a community of others to work with, to the complete novice who just wants to try something out in a low pressure environment, or the family looking for a fun kids’ activity to fill their afternoon – this workshop is for you!

register

Image: Buckingham Fountain by Jerry Loza
Media: Digital

March 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Initiatives

Public Arts Programs
$20.00

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

21850 Riverwoods Rd.
Riverwoods, IL 60015 United States + Google Map
224.633.2424

BASE: Create & Sip – Felt Flowers with Julia Kemerer

Create & Sip is a monthly workshop hosted at Brushwood Center where participants can explore fun projects using supplies and tools from the Brushwood Art Supply Exchange, BASE. It’s an opportunity to get creative, try something new, and enjoy the company of fellow art enthusiasts in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

We will use materials and supplies from BASE (the Brushwood Art Supply Exchange) that will include a mix of new materials alongside the repurposed and reimagined. Everyone’s project will be unique, and creativity is highly encouraged. 

​At the end of the class, you’ll leave with your own handmade felt flower bouquet, ready to brighten up any space in your home or serve as a heartfelt gift for a loved one. Plus, you’ll take home newfound skills and inspiration to continue your crafting journey beyond the class. 

We’ll have a variety of supplies and tools available.  No experience necessary, all skill levels are welcome.

What to Bring:

  • Your favorite beverage (alcohol is allowed for those 21 +)
  • Some snacks to enjoy as you immerse yourself in the creative process
  • Your friends (make sure they register!)
  • Any extra supplies you want to incorporate into your project (Optional! We have lots of supplies!)

Questions? Please contact Director of Public Programs and Music, Parker Nelson at pnelson@brushwoodcenter.org

$20/person. Please register by March 15. BYOB. 

register

Related Events

February 28 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Initiatives

Public Arts Programs
Free

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

21850 Riverwoods Rd.
Riverwoods, IL 60015 United States + Google Map
224.633.2424

You Choose the Project · Use Tools and Supplies From BASE · Get Help When You Need It

Open Art Workshop is open to anyone who wants to make something in any area of visual arts and crafts, from the experienced artist looking for a community of others to work with, to the complete novice who just wants to try something out in a low pressure environment, or the family looking for a fun kids’ activity to fill their afternoon – this workshop is for you!

February Artist of the Month Jerry Loza will be our guest artist. Jerry served in the U.S. Marines from 1984-1988. Drawing has become part of his mental wellness practice. “When I need to get away from reality, I can 100% focus on my drawing,” he says. A digital artist, he draws using an app on his phone, whenever he needs to decompress and manage stress. (You may recognize Jerry’s work from At Ease in Nature at Brushwood, where he’s exhibited his art with other Veterans and members of the Military community.) Stop by to learn from Jerry!

WHEN DOES IT HAPPEN? 10am-3pm, the last Saturday of every month (no meetings in November and December 2025). Come anytime during the day, and stay as long as you’d like.

WHAT DOES IT COST? Workspace, use of our tools and any instruction or assistance you need is free; supplies from BASE are “pay what you want” (free to teachers and organizations).

WHAT CAN I MAKE? Almost* anything! Come with a project you want to work on in mind, or pick one from our list of project ideas for all ages and abilities. You are welcome to bring your own supplies and tools, or use ones from BASE. You can work independently, or work with an instructor. Here are just a few ideas of what you can learn and do at the Open Art Workshop:

Watercolor · Embroidery · Mosaics · Book Binding · Charcoal Drawing · Knitting & Crochet · Decoupage · Sewing & Mending · Jewelry Making · Plein Air Painting · Basket Weaving · Picture Framing · Card Making · Kids Art Projects · Block Printing · Stained Glass · Acrylic Painting · Costume Making · Weaving · Collage · UpCycling · Gift Wrapping · Sculpture · Upholstery · Colored Pencil · Wreath Making · Beading · Rubber Stamps · Oil Painting · Quilting · Pastels · Macramé · Miniatures

*We will do our best to accommodate all types of projects, but there may be limitations on what is possible on a particular day due to limitations of space, supplies or tools (supplies and tools are mostly donated, and what is available is always changing), or due to a particular project being too messy or dangerous to be done in a public space. If a particular project cannot be worked on during the Workshop that day, we will do our best to help you figure out how to proceed on a future Workshop date or on your own. Since this Workshop is open to ALL topics and media, we won’t be experts on everything, but we can definitely help you get started.

If you have questions about Open Art Workshop or BASE, please contact Julia Kemerer at 224-633-2426 or jkemerer@brushwoodcenter.org.

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Meet Polly Greathouse

Polly Greathouse is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the vitality and interconnectedness of the natural world.

Trained in painting, drawing, and photography at the University of Illinois, she began her career in animation and interface design, helping pioneer early mobile user interfaces before returning to fine art.  Her paintings in oil on paper, inks, multimedia, and water media combine fluid, watercolor-like transparencies with bold, gestural strokes and layered impasto.

Polly also integrates photography and digital tools into her practice, expanding her painterly vocabulary. Influenced by Sumi-e techniques and abstract expressionism, her compositions evoke ecosystems in motion—shaped by shifting light, weather, and seasonal cycles. Rather than a single focal point, her work offers immersive landscapes that mirror the experience of being in nature, where everything is alive and interconnected.

See Polly’s art on display at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods January 3 – 31, 2026.

Aerie Lounge, Fenway Victory Gardens, by Polly Greathouse
Media: Oil on paper

Polly’s Artist Statement

“I paint natural environments from various regions, but most often observe, honor, and celebrate the landscapes of Illinois where I live and work. My art reflects the expressive, ever-changing motions of ecosystems. A consistent element in my work is the absence of a single focal point—much like the experience of being in nature, where wind, sunlight, water, and terrain shift dynamically. I aim to capture fleeting impressions: the posture of a plant, the motion of a bird, the awesome presence of wind or light. These glimpses seed a memory of the moment—one I’m grateful to witness, breathe in, and translate through artistic impressions.”

Image: Twelve Pots, Fenway Victory Gardens, by Polly Greathouse
Media: Oil on paper

Artist of the Month Events

Image: Red-wing blackbirds, Independence Grove by Polly Greathouse Media: Charcoal sketch

January 31
10:00 am – 3:00 pm | Free
Open Art Workshop with Polly Greathouse

Open Art Workshop is open to anyone who wants to make something in any area of visual arts and crafts, from the experienced artist looking for a community of others to work with, to the complete novice who just wants to try something out in a low pressure environment, or the family looking for a fun kids’ activity to fill their afternoon – this workshop is for you!

register

Image: Red-wing blackbirds, Independence Grove by Polly Greathouse
Media: Charcoal sketch

January 31 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Initiatives

Public Arts Programs
Free

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

21850 Riverwoods Rd.
Riverwoods, IL 60015 United States + Google Map
224.633.2424

You Choose the Project · Use Tools and Supplies From BASE · Get Help When You Need It

Open Art Workshop is open to anyone who wants to make something in any area of visual arts and crafts, from the experienced artist looking for a community of others to work with, to the complete novice who just wants to try something out in a low pressure environment, or the family looking for a fun kids’ activity to fill their afternoon – this workshop is for you!

January Artist of the Month Polly Greathouse will be our guest artist. Polly is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the vitality and interconnectedness of the natural world. Rather than a single focal point, her work offers immersive landscapes that mirror the experience of being in nature, where everything is alive and interconnected. Stop by to learn from Polly!

WHEN DOES IT HAPPEN? 10am-3pm, the last Saturday of every month (no meetings in November and December 2025). Come anytime during the day, and stay as long as you’d like.

WHAT DOES IT COST? Workspace, use of our tools and any instruction or assistance you need is free; supplies from BASE are “pay what you want” (free to teachers and organizations).

WHAT CAN I MAKE? Almost* anything! Come with a project you want to work on in mind, or pick one from our list of project ideas for all ages and abilities. You are welcome to bring your own supplies and tools, or use ones from BASE. You can work independently, or work with an instructor. Here are just a few ideas of what you can learn and do at the Open Art Workshop:

Watercolor · Embroidery · Mosaics · Book Binding · Charcoal Drawing · Knitting & Crochet · Decoupage · Sewing & Mending · Jewelry Making · Plein Air Painting · Basket Weaving · Picture Framing · Card Making · Kids Art Projects · Block Printing · Stained Glass · Acrylic Painting · Costume Making · Weaving · Collage · UpCycling · Gift Wrapping · Sculpture · Upholstery · Colored Pencil · Wreath Making · Beading · Rubber Stamps · Oil Painting · Quilting · Pastels · Macramé · Miniatures

*We will do our best to accommodate all types of projects, but there may be limitations on what is possible on a particular day due to limitations of space, supplies or tools (supplies and tools are mostly donated, and what is available is always changing), or due to a particular project being too messy or dangerous to be done in a public space. If a particular project cannot be worked on during the Workshop that day, we will do our best to help you figure out how to proceed on a future Workshop date or on your own. Since this Workshop is open to ALL topics and media, we won’t be experts on everything, but we can definitely help you get started.

If you have questions about Open Art Workshop or BASE, please contact Julia Kemerer at 224-633-2426 or jkemerer@brushwoodcenter.org.

REGISter

Related Events

February 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Initiatives

Public Arts Programs
$20.00

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

21850 Riverwoods Rd.
Riverwoods, IL 60015 United States + Google Map
224.633.2424

BASE: Create & Sip – Smashed Dish Mosaics with Julia Kemerer

Create & Sip is a monthly workshop hosted at Brushwood Center where participants can explore fun projects using supplies and tools from the Brushwood Art Supply Exchange, BASE. It’s an opportunity to get creative, try something new, and enjoy the company of fellow art enthusiasts in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

This month’s class will be led by Brushwood’s Director of Art and Administration, Julia Kemerer, who will teach us to repurpose broken dishes into beautiful mosaics. Everyone’s project will be unique, and creativity is highly encouraged. We will have a variety of materials available to use for your project, but if you have something of your own you would like to bring and try to incorporate into your artwork, you are welcome to bring it!


Everyone’s project will be unique. No experience necessary, all skill levels are welcome.

What to Bring:

  • Your favorite beverage (alcohol is allowed for those 21 +)
  • Some snacks to enjoy as you immerse yourself in the creative process
  • Your friends (make sure they register!)
  • Any extra supplies you want to incorporate into your project (Optional! We have lots of supplies!)

Questions? Please contact Director of Public Programs and Music, Parker Nelson at pnelson@brushwoodcenter.org

$20/person. Please register by February 15. BYOB. 

register

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