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SALON 2008 Chicago USA
Organizer Michele Santili
The theme for Salon
2008-Chicago was music...with an expectation of
coming together not only to
be inspired by each other, but by different
styles of music, as well.
Some participants incorporated a musical element
into their exhibition
piece, while others allowed the music to inspired their
hand as they
painted. During the exhibition, each day a different style of
music was
played by live bands consisting of jazz, classical, rhythm & blues
and
rock. We discovered what the "blues" look like with the completion of
the
incredible collaborative mural, done under the direction of Patrick Kirwin.
  
The marble painting
"contest" was a treat as
brushes danced across the canvas to the lively
classical music of the string quartet. With six
different bands
playing
over the four days, and
approximately 100 decorative painters from 13
countries, this unique blend of music and passionate
painting made for
some magical moments.
The enormous venue was
provided by District Council 30 and
the International Union of Painters
and Allied Trades, of our many
sponsors and contributors, who continue
to make it all possible.
     
 Starting with our welcome
reception,
we popped champagne and nibbled on assorted goodies.
Our
opening dinner was at the Signature Room, which
is on the 95th
floor of the John Hancock building in downtown Chicago. Noted for
their fine food and a spectacular view of the city, we were treated to
the best
of the best. We dined and danced to our hearts content.
This year, two collaborative
murals were completed by many who painted
continuously to get the job
done. The "blues" mural was presented to
the City of Aurora. The collage
of musical instruments mural was presented
to DC 30. Enough thanks can't
be expressed to the DC 30 volunteers who
gave so much of their time and
effort for our benefit.
  
And of course, there's
always the
unexpected... this year it was body
painting, or better said
"painting with bodies"!
As the Salon draws near to
the end, it's always hard to say the good-byes.
Our final dinner
included many musical surprises and hidden talents. To name
a few: the
Salon Band accompanied by the girls chorus - the "trompe l'oeil-ettes",
a tap dance performance by Valerie Naulleau, a song and dance by our
very own gorilla (sorry, some silly things are better left unexplained),
a song written and performed by non other than Mark Golden " I Wanna Be
At Salon, Baby", and a very special surprise for me, as Patrick Laheyne
sang and played his beautiful rendition of "Michelle" by the Beatles. We
then danced until the wee hours and lingered as long as possible.
    
Those that could stay on had
two day-excursions to see the sights, which included a tour of the
Chicago Art Institute and an architectural boat ride.
Many thanks to all our
Sponsors, Contributors and Volunteers!! Your continued support,
generosity and your gifts of endless hours truly does make it all
happen, and is most sincerely appreciated.
Sponsors and Contributors
list:
IUPAT-District Council 30,
IUPAT-Finishing Trades Institute,
Finishing Contractors Association of
Illinois, Golden Artist Colors,
Faux Effects International, The City of
Aurora, Adicolor, Rockland Industries,
Purdy Professional Painting
Tools, 3M Company, Sherwin Williams,
Williamsburg Artist Materials,
Georgia Pacific, Vanneste Galleries,
and Sal's Beverage World.
School Sponsors:
Anything
But Plain School of Decorative Finishes, Chicago Institute of Fine
Finishes, Dundean Studios, Faux Design Studio, Faux Effects Dallas Inc.,
Faux Effects International, Faux Masters Studio, Pierre Finkelstein
Institute, and The School of Applied Arts.
It has been my pleasure and
privilege to have been at your service,
Michele Santilli - Organizer
of Salon 2008
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