As Monkey Mind Art Studio and Gallery continues to raise the bar of excellence for art exhibits in the Chicago Southland, owner Patty McWilliams couldn't be more pleased to bring 'Stranded' to Frankfort for an October 7 through November 4 run.  

Award-winning visual artists Sherri Denault and Margie Glass-Sula have teamed up to create a series of narrative visuals in a mix of photography styles. Visitors will see traditional photographs, digital giclee printed on cotton rag papers and a print done in metallic, along with images featuring a mixed media technique. The exhibit also includes a few sculptures constructed of automotive parts, which compliment the rest of the collection.  

As for theme, Glass-Sula explained that the images in 'Stranded' address modern American society's massive struggle to move itself away from old technologies and into the future, with a reluctance stemming from age-old ideals of beauty and status iconography. The idea for the collaboration came after Glass-Sula visited Denault's studio, located in Cullom, Illinois, and the two began to discuss the changing rural landscape, which now included a modern wind farm.  

In working together, Denault brings her talent for capturing nostalgia while glimpsing the future in line with Glass-Sula's simplified and haunting abstract ideals in order to address this societal struggle that the up and coming generation now faces, Glass-Sula shared. The end result is a visually striking exhibit which tugs at the heartstrings while tickling the brain with all of the "what if" questions about life in the future.  

Perhaps most exciting for Denault and Glass-Sula, however, is that one of the works from the collection entitled "Beauty Feeds the Beast" was entered in the Women's Caucus for Art 2012 National Exhibition "Petroleum Paradox: For Better or For Worse" at Denise Bibro Fine Art in New York City. The pair was then selected to have their work published in the exhibition catalogue along with a brief artists' statement. This is a coveted honor which goes to a small percentage of the exhibiting artists in a national show like that, Glass-Sula said.   "Therefore, most artists that get a work 'noticed' in such a way take that as the utmost compliment as to the strength of the work and the message you are conveying through it," she added.  

A meet and greet with Denault and Glass-Sula will take place at the opening reception on Friday, October 12, from 6-8 p.m. at Monkey Mind Art Studio and Gallery. The reception is free and open to the public.  

Otherwise, the gallery is normally open Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other days and times by appointment. Monkey Mind Art Studio and Gallery is located at 3 W. Nebraska Street in charming downtown Frankfort. Visit www.monkeymindartstudio.com or call 815.464.8818 for more information.