Don't Miss the Naked July Fine Art Gallery

Once again, the theater lobby and front windows of the National Pastime Theater have been transformed into a fine art gallery featuring the work of some of the most talented artists in the Chicago metropolitan area. As you might guess, since this gallery was created during the annual Naked July Festival, figure drawings and paintings as well as other works that celebrate the beauty of the human body are the primary focus of the exhibit. All of the pieces will be on display during the festival in July and are available for purchase.

Patty Davoust created the eye-catching sculpture shown above that is displayed in the front window of the National Pastime Theater as well as a ceramic piece that hangs in the theater lobby. Patty is a resident artist at the Batavia Artists Association at Water Street Studios and a part-time instructor at the Moraine Valley Community College. Patty has also been an inspiration for other artists by working as a figure model for the past several years.

Gary Schirmer returns to NPT this summer, this time as the curator of the fine arts gallery for Naked July 2011. Gary has also helped to advance the understanding of the artistic process by facilitating figure drawing sessions at National Pastime Theater during the summer festival. In addition to his work as curator of the exhibit, Gary also has pieces of his own on display in the theater lobby again this summer. Be sure to visit his web site to learn more about his work or to contact him about purchasing one of his drawings.

Lauren Smith is a Chicago-based artist and writer whose portfolio includes drawings, sculptures, paintings, and children’s books. Lauren is a graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a BFA in illustration and material studies. Her illustrations have been published and sold in several venues including Lulu.com publishing and Amazon.com. You can read more about this talented artist or commission her for a project by visiting her web site.


Louis Mustari is a retired art professor at the School of Art at Northern Illinois University who now works in drawing and woodcarving. He was the focus of a one man exhibition titled Drawing the Human Figure, of which he wrote “My work is the direct outcome of some of my most basic ideas. I believe visual art to be an aesthetic expression, in any given medium, that communicates something of the human condition and experience. The most direct, if not the best, way of communicating is by that which we hold in common: our human body.”


If you plan to attend any of the Naked July performances this month, be sure to come to the theater early so that you have time to look at the outstanding artwork on display in the lobby.