Oak Park artist Kristi Sloniger of Moonstar Pottery was recently accepted by Artisans 21, a Chicago gallery, which will display her stoneware. A member of the Oak Park Art League and the Oak Park Area Arts Council, Sloniger displays her work throughout the country. She is also a trained flautist and was formerly the music librarian for the Houston Grand Opera and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C. “My stoneware is meant to be touched, used and enjoyed in the everyday rituals of life,” she said.
Mr. Whitaker goes to Washington
Joshua Whitaker was recently nominated by one of his teachers at St. Patrick High School, and has been accepted, to participate in the National Young Leaders Conference/Congressional Youth Leadership Council in Washington this summer. The 10-day conference gives students a feel for the way things work in the Capitol building. The sophomore also plays on the varisty basketball team, serves on the student planning committee and is a member of the French Club.
Music more than Movement
The Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park recently presented Alisa Robinson and Greer Dworman in a recital at the Doris Humphrey Memorial Theatre. Robinson, a senior at Fenwick High School, played original classical piano compositions “We Will Rise” and “Veritas” along with other selections. Greer, a junior at OPRF High School, sang American standards as well as French, German and Italian selections. She also dances with OPRF’s Orchesis Dance Troupe. Both are students of Patricia Wilken, director of Music at the Academy.
Ignatius students among National Achievement finalists
Among seven St. Ignatius College Prep seniors, who were honored as National Achievement finalists for the 2005-06 school year, were Trenton Arthur of Oak Park and Troy Pasulka of River Forest.
The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic program established to provide recognition for outstanding African-American high school students. Black students may enter both the National Achievement Program and the National Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT. Annually, more than 130,000 students enter the National Achievement Program. Of that number, only 1,300 students, or the top 1 percent of those who entered, are named as National Achievement finalists.
Téa joins the party
Scott and Lisa Van Pasquesi of Elmwood Park are the parents of a daughter, Téa Denise, born at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park on Jan. 25, 2006.
Téa is the little sister of Anthony Van Pasquesi, 6, and Ryan Scott Pasquesi, 5.
Her grandparents are former River Forest residents Anthony and Jeanine Pasquesi of Addison and Sarasota, Fla., and former Oak Park residents Jon Van of Chicago and Denise O’Brien Van of West Des Moines, Ia.
Bread and photos
Photographer Todd Bannor’s nature and landscape prints and impressionistic depictions of Chicago scenes are now on display at Prairie Bread Kitchen, 103 N. Marion Street in Oak Park until March 11.
He recently started Bannor Photography, featuring corporate, portrait and event photography (bannorphotography.com).
