Artist of the Month: Winifred Godfrey

• Artist of the month

Winnie Godfrey is our April Artist of the Month. Originally from Philadelphia, Godfrey was raised on Chicago’s south side and earned a bachelor of science in art and a master of fine arts from the University of Wisconsin. She also studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of California.

The timeless tradition of floral painting inspires most of Godfrey’s work, but she developed a unique style that depicts floral subjects in an eye-catching, modern way. She utilizes light, color and composition techniques to make photorealistic paintings and presents her subjects with a fresh approach to depicting shapes, texture and the translucency of flowers.

Although her artwork primarily consists of oil-based floral paintings, she is renowned for her work in other figurative subjects, including a series inspired by the indigenous Mayans in Guatemala. Each painting illustrates a different village and costume in a sequence of 14 life-size oils titled “Mayan Procession.” While she often uses oil paint, Godfrey includes a variety of mediums in this series, such as textiles, photos and “alfombra” or carpet made of colored sawdust.

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Celebrate Garden Day!

April 14 is Garden Day, and there are so many gardens to either be a part of or explore throughout Illinois. Garden Day can be celebrated by planting the state flower, the common blue violet, starting your own garden at home, or visiting your local gardens.

In celebration, here are some places to visit across the state:

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Check out these free Illinois museums this month

Are you looking for something fun and free to do this month?

Museums across the state are offering free admission to Illinois residents.

As long as you show proof of residency, you get free admission!

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Witnessing nature’s grand spectacle: Total solar eclipse on April 8

On April 8, people in Illinois will have the opportunity to witness one of nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomena – a total solar eclipse. This rare event occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, which casts a shadow that completely blocks out the sun’s light, turning day into an eerie twilight.

Illinois, known for diverse landscapes and star-studded skies, will serve as an ideal viewing location for this celestial spectacle. The path of totality – the area where the sun is completely obscured by the moon – will include the southern tip of Illinois as well as other states.

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