"As the president of the Senate, I attend functions and events across the state and get the opportunity to meet great people doing outstanding things. Recently I was lamenting how hard it is to keep track of all of this good news and said aloud, 'You know, there ought to be a website.' And the response from my staff was, 'We can do that.' That's how the 'I Like Illinois' website got started." -- Senate President John Cullerton, September 11, 2014
Tina Wagner has been touching students’ lives as an art teacher in Illinois since 1977. She has helped elementary, middle and high school students grow as artists. Outside of her teaching responsibilities, Wagner has worked with community artists and organizations to create community murals. Her latest project is the Nunda Township Barn on Bay Road in Crystal Lake. Read on to learn more about Wagner.
Ricardo Andre' Lewis realized his passion for art in high school and came to Illinois in 1985. He received his M.S. in Art from Illinois State University in 1987 and currently serves as the Associate Dean of Students for the university. Lewis specializes in paintings and his current body of work is portraits of African American male students from Illinois State University. Read on to learn more about Mr. Lewis and check out his website for more information about his work.
Erik Blome followed his father’s passion for art and has become one of Illinois’ most prolific artists. Blome specializes in creating massive bronzes. He has created the Blackhawks’ 75th anniversary sculpture at the United Center, a 9/11 monument in Oak Lawn and a statue of Jack Benny along with other sensational works. Blome’s art can be found in 17 states and in Canada.
Blome and his wife, Charlotte, have founded and run a non-profit organization called “When I Grow Up I Want To Be,” which brings art and other supplies, art workshops and attention to children from Ethiopia.
The Supreme Court’s historic decision to extend Marriage Equality nationwide came just two days before Chicago’s 46th Annual Pride Parade, giving extra meaning to the annual celebration of the LGBT community. The parade, which was held yesterday and traveled through Chicago’s Uptown, Lakeview and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, is one of the oldest and largest pride parades in the nation.
