Krannert Art Museum

After a one-year hiatus, the KAM Council Board is excited to bring back our very popular Art Raffle.

When the museum is open during Moms Weekend, these original works of art will be set up in the lobby to view, and raffle tickets will be available for sale ($5 each or 5 for $20). Proceeds from this raffle will be used for future KAM Council programs.

We are especially excited this year because we have seven talented artists participating. So stop by the museum for a chance to win of these wonderful works of art. Scroll through the top slideshow to many of them.

Artist Statements

Sandra Batzli

As a graduate in Art Education from the University of Minnesota, I was instructed in a variety of art media. I taught art in art museums and both public and private schools in Minnesota and California.

My husband’s work took our family to Barrow, Alaska (where I painted watercolors of 58 tundra plants), and to Lower Hutt, New Zealand (where I learned to spin and weave wool). Before moving to Urbana in 1971, I was a production potter in Davis, California.

My interest in art education continued here where I have benefited personally by studying various pieces in the Krannert Art Museum’s permanent collection and by viewing their special exhibits. Since 1990, I have focused on and been inspired to paint watercolors of both the manmade and natural phenomena found in the ever-changing Midwest environment.

I exhibit locally with Artisans 10+, a group I helped found, and maintain a home/studio in Urbana.

Patrick Harness

Patrick Harness was born in Mobile, Alabama. He has since resided in Western Australia, Oregon and Brooklyn, New York where he attended Pratt Institute. His images are a result of 35 years of experimenting with a variety of media, with a focus on pastel and oil painting. He has happily resided in central Illinois since 1977 where he enjoys the company of his family, friends and the unique beauty of its rural landscape.

Patrick says: I use a multiple layering technique with both the pastels and oil paintings. By allotting a passage of time between each layer, I allow the piece to "tell" me what is needed next. I also enjoy focusing on the implied movement of each subject, to reflect the passage of time.

Diane Schumacher

Diane received her undergraduate degree in art education from the University of Illinois and her graduate degree in interior design from Indiana University. In the past, she has taught art in the public school system and has worked as a freelance designer.

She retired in 2014, after working 23 years at Krannert Art Museum. At that time, she began taking watercolor classes with Margaret DeCardy, an accomplished artist who during her career has created magnificent watercolors.

Birute Simaitis

At age eight, I emigrated to America with my parents and three siblings on the USS General Howze, one of the US Navy Transport Ships that were used to transport refugees at the end of WW II. We were fortunate to be in the American Zone of Germany, and fortunate to find a kind family in Missouri to sponsor us.                          

We eventually settled in Chicago in a Lithuanian neighborhood. As far as I can remember, art has somehow been a part of my life. My mother guided me when I made my childish drawings. My first visit to the Art Institute of Chicago was at age 14. That visit became an inspiration, and the Art Institute a regular haunt. However, my education was in Medical Technology and I worked at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago until I married Vaidas Simaitis and followed him to the University of Illinois.       

Several years after moving to Champaign/Urbana in 1971, I discovered Parkland College, which at that time did not have a permanent location. Due to its wonderful art program and expanding campus, I was able to fill my free time with graphic design, art history, visiting museums, and especially the joy of painting.  I enjoy visiting museums in our travels, but am especially drawn to street artists, outdoor art shows, and small exhibits.

Vaidas Simaitis

While sipping Cappuccino at the entrance to Nordstrom in Chicago, waiting for Birute to finish shopping, I started to doodle on a napkin and ended up drawing an octagon. I added triangular points on the outside -- it looked a lot more interesting. Before retiring from the Physics Department at the University of Illinois, much of my work was designing parts in three dimensions, and I tried to imagine what this may look like extended to 3D. Birute came out – no shoes - it was time to go, and I forgot about it.

Back in Urbana, several months later, the image kept coming back. I thought it would be a great challenge to see if I could actually make it somehow. Having a workshop in the back corner of our lot, I decided to try it. Since this would definitely involve power tools and I still needed all my fingers, I started with soft wood (redwood) and very large so I could keep by fingers far from the blade. Eventually I succeeded, but decided it was much too big, and started making much smaller ones, and then larger ones from 1-5/32" wood boards. I started removing wood with cut out holes, and then cut out slots.  This is one of the results, made from wood, glue, and gold glitter paint.

If you need to know the technical name of this polyhedron, you’ll have to learn to say: Slotted Augmented ‘Rhombicuboctahedron’. Or ‘RCO’ for short.

David Moore Smith

David Moore Smith has touched the lives of millions worldwide since earning his degree in visual design from Purdue University. 

He began his career as a set and prop designer for Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood at WQED in Pittsburgh in 1971. His work is seen in such designs as the puppet, Harriet Elizabeth Cow, and the Neighborhood model used in the opening and closing credits of the show. 

David is now a full time artist who has lived, painted, and exhibited his work around the globe.

Bonnie Switzer

If there is a unifying characteristic of my art, it is to be found in my love of vibrant color and for the wonderful effects that occur-- usually planned, but sometimes not--when the paint flows onto paper.  I paint in both realistic and nonrepresentational styles.  When I paint real objects or landscapes, I am drawn to scenes of intense color, warmth, and peacefulness.  

My works are painterly.   I don’t strive for tight, photographic precision. In abstract paintings I am completely free to explore color, shape, rhythm and design without the need to represent a scene or object. I also make original, one-of-a-kind art cards, which are well known in the Champaign-Urbana area.  

I have been painting since 1990 and have taken art classes at the University of Illinois and Parkland College.  In 2002, I earned an Associate degree in Fine Arts from Parkland College.  In addition, I’ve also taken numerous art workshops from well-known water media artists around the country.  I won an award in the Watercolor USA national competition in 2018 and was named to Watercolor USA Honor Society.                                                                                                                                                 

The Cinema Gallery in Urbana displays and sells my art.