KVAL meeting features eclectic sculpture artist

There are artists who paint, some who take photographs, and others who turn wood or weave fabric.

And then there is Steve Erbe, a machinist and artist who enjoys sculpting. Erbe will demonstrate his original eclectic style of art for the Oct. 7 meeting of the Kishwaukee Valley Art League at Gallery On State, 322 W. State St. in Sycamore. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.

Erbe began his venture into art by exhibiting at craft shows in the mid ′90s and eventually started to create more elaborate fine art pieces. After being accepted to the juried Naperville River Walk show, Erbe received the encouragement he needed to create more art. Using wood, metal, glass or any other items that he thinks will fit his style, he creates one-of-a-kind pieces.

“I create now, for the pure joy of creating,” Erbe said in a news release. “I like incorporating recycled materials into many of my pieces. A material will usually catch my eye because of unusual texture or shape. I zero in on the material and wrestle with the thought of what it can be used for. I absolutely love this process of creating art.”

Erbe spent three years under the tutelage of James R. Banicki, a luthier in Vermont, who taught him to make violins. He also studied sketching under Norbert F. Posen, a watercolorist from LaGrange.

“My whole motto in this wonderful world of art is: ‘Joy in the Journey.’ How can one not be happy creating?” he said.

This month’s featured artists at Gallery on State are Jack and Bev Kuhn. Their work is on display in the eastern window. Jack, a local plumber by trade, turns beautiful wooden bowls from various colorful hardwoods. He also crafts cutting boards and rolling pins from wood.

KVAL members are starting to donate new art supplies as part of the Art of Giving portion of the organization’s philantropy program. These art supplies of paints, canvases, brushes, markers, pens and sketch pads will be donated to six charity organizations in Sycamore and DeKalb. The public is invited to donate new art supplies as well.

Artists from the KVAL organization will soon offer more art classes, workshops and “artists at work” sessions at Gallery On State. Watch for announcements of these events on the KVAL website and Facebook or stop by the gallery for a free calendar of events.

The Kishwaukee Valley Art League is committed to promoting local artists and dedicated to the development of upcoming artists in the Kishwaukee Valley area. Hy-Vee and Waste Management are patron members of the organization. Visit www.kval-nfp.org for information.