With an adult-sized rocking horse and floating balls of yarn keeping spectators busy, West Chicago artist Anni Holm ushered about 250 people through the doors of ArtXposium Friday night.

The show, which continued through the weekend, was a smorgasbord of art created as near as next door as well as overseas. Visitors came from surrounding communities as well as Chicago, Holm said.

About 60 artists had pieces on display at the event, held at the former Grobe’s True Value, 103 W. Washington St. in West Chicago, ranging from abstract sculpture to video.

“The response was good,” Holm said. “They were saying, ‘What is going to be here next weekend?’”

Through donations, Holm raised about half the amount needed to support a local artists residency program, allowing artists from around the world to come stay in West Chicago and produce pieces here.

“We will have to do some fundraising events, but not sure in what form,” Holm said.
City Registrar Brian Reis, who helped organize the event, was impressed with the turnout and the response at Friday’s opening.

“I walked out of here and I was on Cloud Nine,” he said Saturday. “My whole drive home I was thinking — that worked.”

Wheaton resident Linda Wagner, perusing the various art with a friend, said the two rode bicycles to the exhibit. Her only complaint was that she couldn’t tell the origin of each piece.

“I think it’s neat there’s something like this in West Chicago,” she said. “It’s not traditional, it’s a mixture.”

Winfield resident Loren Getz stopped by Saturday, and liked the interactive pieces, like the rocking horse even adults could ride. The former 30-year West Chicago High School teacher was also curious as to from where each piece came.

“I’m impressed,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it in West Chicago.”

A steady stream of visitors kept Holm and Reis busy Saturday afternoon, and the two debated what the next move should be. If the art residency program can get off the ground, Holm said it could provide another boost to the city’s artistic growth.

“It’s been a lot of work, but it’s been a lot of fun, too,” Holm said.