Lincoln Square Art Walk

This weekend is the Lincoln Square Art Walk and it's the first time that the Rare Dirndl Designs Studio is participating in the event! As a venue, I worked closely with local artist, Daniel Cleary and will have his artwork displayed in the design studio windows all weekend!

Daniel Cleary was born in Tipperary Town, Ireland. Having developed a passion for painting at an early age, Daniel went to art school in London. From there, he moved to America, became a citizen and has been living in Chicago for the past 30 years.

"My art depends very much on what I take in through my eyes. In seeing, I try to get to the heart of my subject. I am stimulated by what I see and held in thrall by it -- as Delacroix has described it, 'as a snake by a snake charmer'. The artists I have tried to learn from have all had their original stimulus from nature: Cezanne, Van Gogh and Matisse, even Mondrian who talked about plastic values which I understand as a kind of tactile presence. I try to make the subjects I paint or draw immediate to the senses."

To decide which paintings he would display in the windows, he stopped by and took a look at my work and thought that the portraits and still life paintings featuring flowers would compliment the Rare Dirndls nicely. Also in the window is the Love Dirndl. 

I designed this dirndl in 2010 after the world lost a beautiful member of the German Community. Fellow Donauschawben dancer and friend, Katie Buchert, lost her battle with breast cancer inspired the Strength in Pink Collection. The love dirndl is still available and the proceeds from that collection benefit the Young Survival Coalition. We have already donated over $800 in Katie's name and can't wait to give more. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and we hope to support a great cause and local artists this month with our window display.

Although the studio will not be open this weekend, if you are in the Lincoln Square area, please take a wander around the neighborhood and check out all the local artist's work and the small businesses. 

Strength in Pink

Soon after I became a part of the AAS Jugendgruppe in 2001 I began making new friends from other Donauschawben clubs from around the country, and one of them was Katie Buchert. She was always happy, energetic, and could not keep from dancing when the music was playing. The AAS Jugend made multiple trips to milwaukee and them to Chicago and since then everyone in the AAS Jugend became friends with Katie and the other members of the Danube Cultural Society of Southeastern Wisconsin. Her smile and enthusiasm was contagious! After her breast cancer diagnosis in 2006 we all kept her in our thoughts and prayers. After a long fight, multiple surgeries and many ups and downs, Katie lost her battle in October.

I was greatly inspired by her spirit and decided to design a small collection in her honor. A line based on the color pink, her incredible strength, and her motto... Live by the 4L's

After completing the pieces, Vanessa Buholzer, Maggie Zawislak, Katherine Rally, and Nikki Bappert all volunteered to help out with the photoshoot for free. We all met at the Balance Healing Center/Shanti Yoga Studio for the shoot and it was a great success.

All the proceeds from the collection will go to the Young Survival Coalition. Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the premier global organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. YSC offers resources, connections and outreach so women feel supported, empowered and hopeful. We need to dispel the myth that breast cancer only occurs to women over the age of 40. KT’s first entry in her journal after learning she had breast cancer tells her story:

At US Cellular [her employer], they live by the 4 L’s: Love, Live, Learn & Leave a Legacy. When a traumatic event occurs, you really think about what type of legacy you could want to leave behind – especially if you get another opportunity. I’m using this opportunity to carry my voice - particularly to those who were diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age. Our stories are a little bit different. We just began our career – fresh right out of college, still looking to find Prince Charming, and as my friend Lauren described it, “22 is the time to spend partying – the time to be at the bars – not to be living with cancer.” ... But instead, I was fighting to have a mammogram...

When I graduated from college I was having a hard time trying to find a way to use my talents and passion to make the world a better place. Katie's spirit and story have helped me realize how I can do that. I hope that people enjoy this collection and help support the cause.