This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Arts & Entertainment

Local Artist Will Showcase His Work at the North Riverside Mall Theater

Artist Steven Barrett's work seems to have a life all its own. His is a rare talent who grasps the viewer and makes them feel as if they're seeing every emotion the subject has ever allowed across his or her face. Throughout the month of February 2011, Black History Month, Steven will be sharing his work with visitors at the popular North Riverside Mall Theatre, located at 7501 West Cermak Road, where his paintings will be on display in the lobby exhibit space.

Steven has been painting for ten years and was inspired to become an artist by his mother and his brother, Barrett, who hails from Chicago's Southside. His goal is to show the different sides of individual subjects, including, as he says, "the emotion that they display on a day-to-day basis." Barrett's portraits are larger than life oils whose subjects stare directly out from the canvas, exuding energy and a vibe that belies their static nature.

Steven Barrett displays his work in galleries, shows, and museums throughout Chicago. He is "honored and proud," he says, to be showing his paintings at the North Riverside Mall Theatre during Black History Month. Steven studied his craft at the American Academy of Art and Gallery 37 Center for the Arts. His work can also be seen at http://sugahbearstudio.weebly.com.

Find out what's happening in La Grangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Each month, the North Riverside Mall Theatre provides lobby space to display the works of local artisans. Classic Cinemas, based in Downers Grove, Illinois, is a family-owned company operated by Willis, Shirley and Chris Johnson. Established in 1978, Classic Cinemas operates 13 theatres with 99 screens in 12 communities in the Chicagoland and northern Illinois area. For more information on Classic Cinemas or the North Riverside Mall Theatre, please visit www.classiccinemas.com.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?