By Livvie Avrick, Digital Communications Manager
Frank Morreale is an artist and advocate born in Chicago and a graduate from the School of the Art Institute in the 1960s. His work is best described as dream imagery, and he exclusively works with archival materials: handmade papers, archival pens and adhesives, and recycled bottles. “Art as I experience it is a response to the stimulus of beauty observed, relished and absorbed — a joyous occupation almost totally devoid of conscious mental effort,” said Frank. “It is closer to meditation than to work.”
Frank’s home gallery is filled with art collected from his travels, his own creations, and art from his friends, including his late best friend Jon Cockrell, interior and furniture designer. “We had a lot to do with each other’s work; we informed each other’s work,” said Frank. In memory of his friend Jon who died at age 35 in 1988 of AIDS complications, Frank is selling his art for the first time in nearly 15 years. 25% of the proceeds will go to support the work of AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC). “I lost my best friend to AIDS, and I took care of him until he died,” said Frank. “I’ve lost many friends. We all went through that horrible era.” Frank’s way of helping and connecting with the community is through selling his art. Each piece of art is a part of him, and to know that he can give something meaningful to people that will also come to fruition in rent or case management is what drives Frank.
His gallery includes drawings and objects. “The pictures seem to capture a fraction of a second, frozen as in a photograph, depicting vignettes of interaction between fantastic creatures from a pre-modern world with psychological or accidental relationships,” said Frank. Learn more about Frank’s work here.
To arrange a viewing of the gallery, text Steve Quinlan at 312-401-9410.
