Chicago Alliance
of Visual Artists
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CAVA is a volunteer not-for-profit organization founded in 1988 to serve artists aged 50+. We're dedicated to giving our over 300 members throughout Chicagoland the opportunity to exhibit artwork in at least three exhibits annually in such notable venues as the Chicago Cultural Center, Evanston Art Center, Bridgeport Art Center, Beverly Arts Center, and the Leslie Wolfe Gallery in Old Town.
Creating art can be a solitary occupation—CAVA organizes and presents events for older artists to come together through its exhibitions, salons, member luncheons, workshops, annual Symposium, and special events. For more information, visit our CONTACT page, and sign up for our e-newsletter.
CAVA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS:
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Exhibit in the Annual Members Show;
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Enter the juried Later Impressions exhibition;
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Engage in various group and media-focused exhibitions
we organize throughout the Chicago area; -
Participate in membership social and educational programs, including our Salon/Critique Events; CAVA's Intergenerational Projects; Artist Studio Visits; and the annual CAVA Symposium.
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FEATURED CAVA ARTIST
DOROTHY GRADEN grew up in Gary, Indiana, where the vibrant local art scene and the rich mix of cultures became some of her earliest sources of inspiration. Her earliest artistic expressions were inspired by graffiti she observed on buildings and bridges, using spirals, dots, and zigzags as central components of her pieces. She spent years studying art using many methods and materials, including oil, watercolor, drawing, Japanese suminagashi, Chinese calligraphy, ceramics, papermaking, and woodblock printing. Her formal education includes a B.S. in Education from Indiana University and a Masters in Liberal Studies from Valparaiso University. "As an educator for 20 years, I shared the richness of the multicultural world with my kindergarten students," says Dorothy, "recognizing and encouraging the inherent creativity present in all human expression."
The Journey Within, mixed media on Arches paper
Dorothy's travels around the world and her adventures as a certified scuba diver exposed her to the traditions and art of local communities, classical artists, and ancient cultures, as well as the vivid landscapes and colors of both land and sea. "My inspiration comes from coral reefs and ocean adventures, including night diving, where the bioluminescence is magical."
Above: Dorothy at work in the studio
Below: Between Two Worlds,
mixed media on Arches paper
"For the past few years Ive been gravitating to using primarily mixed media on paper," says Dorothy. "I like that the work is organic from the very beginning all the way to the finished painting."
4 a.m., mixed media on Arches paper
Dorothy's art is both objective and layered, infused with her life experience and observations, and incorporating the textures, hues, and layers of time and space. "I like to think of my work as visual storytelling, with multiple stories within the whole, coming together to tell a grand story."
Procession, mixed media on Arches paper
To see more of Dorothy's work, and learn more about her artistic process, CLICK HERE.