Vietnam vet, Gary Wick, combines photography, painting in his artwork

Originally published March 23, 2017

When we learned about upcoming events at McCord Gallery in Palos Park, a local artist from Worth contacted me and provided information on his colorfully artistic life.

Gary Wick — who said he is 75 and getting older — has been creating art since he was 5 years old. His 6th-grade teacher suggested he take classes at Chicago’s Art Institute, and he eventually did. However, at that time, his family was not supportive of his desire to pursue art. They preferred he get a “real” job.

He took drafting classes in high school, which allowed him to do some form of drawing, even though he was drawing buildings and not doing art. In the evenings, he took art classes in the same classroom with his drafting teacher and other local artists.

Wick got a job as a draftsman in 1960 and worked in that field until he was drafted into the army in 1966. He served more than 14 months in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1968. When he returned home, he went to the Old Town Art Fair with his father and told him he would be in this art fair someday. Wick was accepted into it in 2002. His father was not alive to see him show his art at that venue.

Wick continued his drafting career until 1996, when computers “invaded” the work force. At that time, he put down his drafting supplies, and picked up his camera and resumed his amateur photography work, which won many national and local awards.

In the early 1970s, Wick did an oil portraiture under the teaching of Mohamed Drisi, a world renowned portrait artist. In 1996, Wick picked up his old pastels and started creating paintings from the photographs he had taken. He sold a few paintings — thus a new career was launched.

In 1996, he taught himself how to use pastels by making mistakes and correcting them until he was happy with the results. Wick focused on painting landscapes, sunsets, barns, and vacation paintings. Wick says, “If you like what you do, your job isn’t work, it’s fun!” But he admits it is a lot of work.

He gives demonstrations, conducts workshops, and teaches art classes. Locally, he teaches Pastel Landscapes at McCord Gallery. His class description states that you will be given the opportunity to “loosen up your style”. He also will give individual time to each student, and will have a critique session at the end of each class.

Now, some of his students are winning awards that Wick had previously won. He is happy to see the students submit works that they have painted outside the classroom; which means that they are dedicating themselves to what they love — art.

Wick is a distinguished member of the Chicago Pastel Painters, the LaGrange Art League, the Elmhurst Artist Guild, and the Naperville Art League.

Currently, three of Wick’s works are displayed in the National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago. If you would like to see his final art show, he will be featured at the LaGrange Art League at 122 Calendar Court, LaGrange, through April. An opening reception is from 2 to 5 p.m. April 8. At the reception, you will be able to purchase his original art at a 15 percent discount.

ALS Awareness

May is ALS Awareness month (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). If you are familiar with this disease, you understand the course that this condition takes, and would do everything to stop the progression.

Local ALS organizations such as the Les Turner Foundation are leading the charge on research, education, and patient care, but research takes funds. Families affected by this disease many times amass large medical bills.

Tinley Park native Jess Wennersten Gormon has put her creative talents to good use by designing a t-shirt in an effort to raise awareness of ALS.

Her father, Don Wennersten, was diagnosed with ALS in November, 2016. He is unable to return to work and was only four years away from retiring. Ms. Gormon adds, “Maintaining his ‘Don-like’ lightheartedness, he jokes about now having weekends off; keeps a smile on his face and a beer in his hand during this journey.”

Please consider buying a t-shirt to help support ALS awareness, with proceeds going toward paying the family’s medical bills. Shirts must be purchased by April 3, and can be found at: https://www.bonfire.com/dons-als-awareness/

To learn about ALS, visit www.alsa.org. For information on the Les Turner Foundation, visit http://lesturnerals.org/