Margaret Berry Visits

Nebraska-based Artist Visits Peace

Burbank, IL – March 4, 2008 – Nebraska-based artist Margaret Berry visited Queen of Peace art students on Feb. 22 to show them how to work in her favorite medium, wax. Berry served as executive director of the Lincoln Arts Council and education director of the University Place Art Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Although she had previously worked in batik fiber art, exhibiting regionally as well as teaching the process, her medium now is encaustic. As an artist fellow of the Haydon Art Center, she organized the first Nebraska encaustic exhibition called Hot Wax/Cool Artists in July, 2006. She is an artist-in-residence for the Nebraska Arts Council and teaches students of all ages in her home studio.

“I am delighted by the students’ responses to this wax medium known as encaustic. Experiencing a new medium provides an opportunity for students to be creative in unexpected ways. Fusing luminous wax and paint in layers, then adding and subtracting, is lush, intuitive and often surprising. Because wax passes from a molten to a hardened state in seconds, zen-like concentration is needed to capture a serendipitous texture or subtly expose the previous layers. The girls picked up the process so well and were very engaged in making their first wax painting,” Berry stated.

Queen of Peace is committed to expanding its fine arts course offerings and programs. The school is dedicated to developing and nurturing creativity and personal expression in its students through more fine arts opportunities. Pictured here: Artist Margaret Berry shows Peace art students, (left) Amber Laduca and Jessica Maes, how to use layers of wax and paint to build colorful creations.