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Lake Forest gallery director looks to future
Rudy De Ram is the new gallery director at the Deer Parth Art League. | Brian O'Mahoney~for Sun-Times Media
Updated: December 30, 2012 6:05AM
LAKE FOREST — Rudy De Ram is the new director of the Deer Path Art League Gallery in Lake Forest. A DPAL member, the Vernon Hills resident is a trained artist and avid photographer.
Q. How did you become involved in the Deer Path Art League?
A. I’ve exhibited at the Lake Forest (Art Fair on the Square) art show for the last four years, so I got to know the people in the art community and I joined the league. I also showed my work at the gallery. One day the league’s informational e-mail listed an opening for a part-time gallery director. I’m told candidates from as far away as New York City applied. I’m glad I was chosen for the job.
Q. What will your role as Gallery Director entail?
A. I’ll be putting together our shows, which change up every six weeks. So I’ll be finding artists for the shows, physically putting up all the work and keeping in touch with artists who have shown before. I’ll also participate in art-related community events. For instance, in March we have a big event where high schoolers from many area schools show their art at our gallery.
Q. What is your arts background?
A. I studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. Initially, I did painting and illustrating, but then got into design. I landed a job in advertising and that’s what I’ve done for the last 30 years. I always kept dabbling in painting and photography, though. About five years ago is when I got more serious about it and started doing the art show summer circuit. I became pretty successful at it and decided to leave my full-time job to focus on my photography.
Q. What do you most often photograph?
A. I do Americana and Western themes. My wife and I actually take a trip out West every year. It’s a pretty extensive road trip; we go to several different states and sometimes stay at cattle ranches.
Q. Why should Lake Foresters and others visit the Deer Path Art League Gallery?
A. We have such a nice variety of work. Each show usually includes work from a painter, a sculptor, a photographer and a jeweler. So there’s really something for everyone. I plan to broaden the spectrum even more in the future. The work we present is high quality and we present it in a professional manner. I think even if someone is not a collector or an art expert, they’ll find something they like.
The Deer Path Art League Gallery is a non-profit organization. The gallery is on the 2nd floor of the Gorton Community Center located at 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. To learn more, visit www.deerpathartleague.org.
