About the Book
A FULL-COLOR illustrated catalog of this award winning and prolific early-1940's to mid-1960's artist's life's work; Stanley Mitruk. Stanley led an interesting life. He taught at the Jane Adams Hull House, studied with Julio DeDeigo, was introduced to Queen Elizabeth II, and was the long time assistant to Mrs. Katherine Kuh, the first official curator of Modern Painting and Sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago. This book serves as both a biography, and an organized catalog of Mr. Mitruk's life's work of painting, woodblock prints, lithography, sculpture and more. The book is packed with hundreds of high quality photos of his works. Most of the photos in the book are in color, and are arranged with Stanley's extensive known provenance of over 400 of the artist's meticulously documented and numbered works. The biography and personal stories of this sensitive artist offers a beautiful glimpse into the developing world of modern art in the Second City. CRITICAL ACCLAIM: "Mitruk's Exhibition is one of the most distinguished solo exhibits by a Chicago Artist seen this season!" Kenneth Shopen, January 21, 1955 Chicago Daily News, (section 2, page 21). (Mitruk's works) ..".quiet, thoughtfully composed oils are tone poems in color..." Edith Weigle, March 20, 1960, Chicago Sunday Tribune, (the "Arts" section). "One of the first canvases to be sold (at the Art Institutes's 58th Annual Chicago Exhibition) was Stanley Mitruk's unusually sensitive still life called "Wire Basket and Tureen." (Catalog #99) It was seen at the exhibition's preview by the prospective purchasers who were so enthusiastic and anxious to own the painting, which won the exhibition's $500 Bartels prize, they called Mitruk early the next day." Frank Holland, June 12, 1955 Chicago Sun-Times, (section 3, page 5). "The outstanding one man show until Feb.13th is that of paintings by Stanley Mitruk at the Charles Feingarten Gallery, 58 E Walton Pl. The paintings are remarkable for drawing, composition, and a technique which plays miracles with texture. Mitruk's new use of vivid color and brilliant lighting in several of the most recent canvases makes one hunger to see more and still more of the increasingly beautiful paintings he is destined to produce. We can think of no other of the younger Chicago group who seems so possessed of genius." Eleanor Jewett, February 5, 1956 Chicago Sunday Tribune, (part 7, page 4). "His palette is purposely limited, which adds to the composure, the exactness, the quiet relaxed aura of his painting, which calms rather than excites one." Doris Lane Butler, October 23, 1957, Chicago Daily News, (page 30). Mr. Mituk has a personal style marked by muted colors and vertical movement of shapes that give dignity and grandeur to each of his canvases. His paintings have a wonderful understanding of values and balance." The New Beacon Newspaper, July 10, 1963, (page 13) "Mitruk shows a mastery of the woodcut mediums." Marilyn Robb, December, 1948 Art News Magazine, (page 47).
About the Author :
Jeff Cobb has a long career of volunteerism for people with HIV/AIDS, which began in the late 1980's. He has given many years of his time to patients at both Illinois Masonic Hospital and Chicago's Cook County Hospital. He has helped with numerous runs, walks, concerts, fundraisers, retreats and lately serves as a camp counselor with Families and Children with AIDS Network, "FCAN," www.familiesandchildrensnetwork.org. "I believe the families battling AIDS are probably the most overlooked segment of warriors against this scourge," Mr. Cobb says. "There has been so much unifying support within the gay and lesbian communities but mainstream families and their children so often just go overlooked," he continues, "this occurs quite often through ignorance, but all too frequently through societal shame with just admitting their need for help. Reaching out from their isolation to other families in similar situations can be tough, but that can be the start of healing on so very many levels. Camp is awesome for the families too! Many of the kids have never been out of the city! They get to go swimming, boating, horseback riding, roast marshmallows, make crafts, and have fun as all kids ought to. And together, they and their parents get to meet other families facing the same personal fight for their lives." Mr. Cobb has long been committed to donating 10% of his income to nonprofits, such as FCAN. Since March of 1989 Jeff has personally sponsored 6 different children through Compassion International, www.compassion.com, and has also served for years on the "overnight shift" with the homeless shelter, West Suburban PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter, www.westsuburbanpads.org ), in Oak Park. Jeff has formal education in architecture and interior design. He has owned rental properties, as well as being the founder of "At Home with Antiques," an antiques store in Downtown Forest Park. He has also written and published a book on a Chicago artist friend, "Stanley Matthew Mitruk: Portrait of a Mid-Century Chicago Artist" which is a available on Amazon.com. This work was recently accepted into the Chicago Art Institute's Ryerson Library.
