‘The Door’ opens at Waukegan church’s Undercroft Gallery

• Reprints

Pictured is the door that is the creative center for the show “The Door,” which runs from Jan. 4 through Feb. 29 at the Undercroft Gallery in Waukegan.

Updated: January 30, 2012 10:23AM

Gurnee artist Thom Kapheim will present a unique interpretive show, “The Door,” from Jan. 4 through Feb. 29 at the Undercroft Gallery, located in the lower level of Christ Episcopal Church, 410 Grand Ave., in Waukegan.

The exhibit is sponsored by the Lake County Art League, Lake County Arts Magazine and Christ Episcopal Church.

Artists are fascinated with doors as a subject for their art, drawn by the sense of passage and the mystery of what’s on the other side. The subject of this show will not be just any door and this won’t be just a typical gallery exhibit.

Kapheim will explore his thoughts on a common church door in this first 2012 exhibit at the Undercroft. The door that is the basis of the show is an outside entry to the hallway that connects the 1880 portion of Christ Episcopal Church to its turn-of-the-century addition, and is visible from the courtyard by those who enter the gallery from Grand Avenue.

“The idea,” he says, “is to reinvent the area into a possible place of interest.”

This process will begin with a display of sketched ideas and proceed in steps as two- and three-dimensional art grows from those sketches. The resulting work is intended to connect the viewer to the artist’s expression of form and feeling. His first sketch includes a promenade of figures on both sides of the courtyard, angels flanking the door, ascending figures over the door, and a crown of thorns at the very top.

The show will change from week to week as Kapheim works through the artistic process, and will begin with several initial sketches of his ideas, as well as various examples of his work to give viewers a sense of who he is. This initial portion of the show will be eliminated over the course of the two-month show, and replaced by the new art created for the ongoing “The Door” project.

“This show is open-ended and exactly what will come from it is not clear right now,” said Chris Tanner, Lake County Art League On-the-Wall Director. “Art is both process and product, and this is an opportunity where the viewer gets to see both of these aspects.”

“The Door” show is free and open to the public. Two Saturday events are planned for those who are not able to track Kapheim’s weekly processing of ideas and impressions.

A “Getting Started” reception is set for Jan. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m., which will also be part of Waukegan’s monthly ArtWauk, and a “Wrapping It Up” celebration of his final creations is set for Feb. 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be offered at both receptions.

The show can also be viewed during regular Gallery hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by appointment for group visits by contacting Tanner at (847) 367-5308. The church serves a luncheon on Wednesdays.

Kapheim is a well-known local artist and a variety of his work can be seen at www.thomkapheim.com.