Arts offerings expand and an idol is crowned
Originally published May 18, 2017
Staff and patrons of the McCord Gallery and Cultural Center in Palos Park welcomed the facility’s new Anderson Annex for the Arts on a recent Sunday. But don’t worry if you missed the open house, the building is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
The exhibit Connections: Explorations by Randy Buvala is on display until June 9. Buvala’s work incorporates abstract with expressionism mainly using charcoal on paper and found objects such as wood, glass, metal and more.
Buvala is an art instructor and coach at Palos South Middle School.
“I use my own constructed images as a vehicle to question the fragility of our everyday lives. I draw directly upon the positive and negative events that surround us on a daily basis,” he said.
“Creating art is way for me to wrap my head around the emotional issues, positive and negative, that each of us must face throughout our lives. While the audience may not understand exactly what I am feeling as the work is created, my hope is that the art contains enough aesthetic quality to capture their attention and hold it.”
His work reflects the delicacy of family dynamics – relationships such as the connections between men and woman or parents and children – the understanding of self-worth, and the strain of career development.
More information about artist Randy Buvala is at www.randybuvala.com. Information about McCord Gallery – including upcoming exhibits and classes – is at 708-671-0648 or www.mccordgallery.org.
Orland Township Senior Idol crowned
Orland Township recently hosted qualifying rounds for their 2017 Senior Idol competition, and culminated with the final event recently at Georgio’s Banquets in Orland Park.
In its sixth year, the competition raises funds for the Orland Township Scholarship Foundation, which provides college scholarships to area high school students. Sixteen finalist competitors and over 700 attendees made the event a big success.
This year’s winner, Robert “Bob” Smith, has lived in Orland Township for 30 years. He sang “If Tomorrow Never Comes” to clinch the win. Smith and his wife, Sharon, raised their family of four and now are proud grandparents of nine. In his pre-Idol days, he was a project superintendent for Walsh Construction, and retired 24 years ago.
“These days, I keep busy gardening, singing karaoke in my garage, but especially going to lunch with my buddies,” he said. “We call ourselves the ROMEO’S – Retired Old Men Eating Out.”
When asked about how he began his singing career, he says, “I got my start singing when my wife volunteered me for a fundraiser to benefit our parish school. That’s when I met a band called Instrumentally Speaking and they let me sing a couple of songs with them. It wasn’t too long before they invited me to be a permanent member.”
Smith and his wife attended last year’s Senior Idol and he found it so much fun that he decided to try out for a spot in the competition this year. He was very happy that he was chosen as a contestant, and was honored that he won, stating that there were so many great and talented people competing.
Smith adds, “I would like to say thank you to all our family and friends who supported and encouraged me and to Orland Township for all their hard work and efforts to make this event such a success.”
After winning the competition, Smith was invited to be on WCIU’s “You & Me” program last week. He again performed “If Tomorrow Never
Comes” for the team at WCIU and their entire viewing audience. Check out the clip at: http://www.wciu.com/videos/youandme/meet-the-newest-senior-american-idol-winner.