Art Opening: sculptor and conceptual folk artist Deborah Pieritz

A wine and cheese reception will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, in the Narrow Gallery at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. The reception officially opens an art exhibit featuring the works of acclaimed sculptor and conceptual folk artist Deborah Pieritz.

The Oak Park Arms exhibit can be viewed daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until it closes on Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Pieritz received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Chicago's School of the Art Institute. Over the last 25 years, her work has been shown both regionally and nationally. Most recently she has had shows at the Fine Arts Building Gallery, Chicago; the Beverly Art Center; and the Art Center of Highland Park. Her work has been on the cover of South Loop Review and included in a recent book on living Chicago artists.

She has had a 24' long installation – "Round-the-Blockness" in the pedway connected to The Daley Center. In addition, her work is in the Collection of the Chicago Public Libraries; the Art Institute of Chicago Print Department; the Pratt Graphic Center, New York; Third Unitarian Church, Chicago; as well as in numerous private collections.

When Pieritz is not working on her art, she helps run Pieritz Bros. Office Supplies, her family's 115-year-old, Oak Park stationery store.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. Call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040 or visit http://www.oakparkarms.com.