About Us
The Kalo Foundation of Park Ridge was established in
2006. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the rich
artistic legacy of the city th
rough
education, advocacy, and preservation, as well as promoting the arts &
crafts as an integral part of our modern lives. Based on the ideals of
the American Arts and Crafts Movement, the Foundation will sponsor
educational seminars, exhibits, tours, publications and special events to
increase awareness and appreciation of the arts and crafts.
The city was home to many famous artists who helped define innovation and entrepreneurship in the arts, including Clara Barck Welles of the Kalo Shop, Albert and Dulah Evans Krehbiel of the Ridge Crafts, Alfonso Iannelli of Iannelli Studios, and many others.
One of our main projects was to purchase and renovate the Iannelli studio (photo at left), which is in Park Ridge and is a valuable historical structure. We were able to purchase the studio in 2011 studio and are now in need of funds to assist in the rehabilitation and renovation of the studio. Donations are still appreciated and needed.
The Kalo Arts Crafts Community was an industrial artist
colony located at 322 Grant Place. As a “school within a workshop,” the
facility trained men and women artisans while producing hand wrought
sterling silver, metalware, jewelry and craft items that were sold in
the Kalo Shop. Grant Wood, best known for his painting "American
Gothic," lived in Park Ridge and was employed by The Kalo Shop. Albert
Krehbiel and his wife his wife Dulah Evans Krehbiel operated the Ridge
Crafts, where Dulah was known for her hand crafted greeting cards and
decorative objects, while Albert focused on painting. In February 2008,
Albert Krehbiel was named the Illinois State Historical Artist for the
murals that he painted on the walls of the Illinois Supreme Court
Building. He produced the prototype for these in his studio on Center
Street in Park Ridge. Alfonso Iannelli, best known for his
sculptural sprites in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Midway Gardens project, was an
instrumental force in bringing about the modernist design movement in
Chicago.
Towards appreciation and education of the arts history of Park Ridge,
The Kalo Foundation has put on multiple silver exhibitions, as well as hosting an exhibit of works of Alfonso
Ianelli and both Albert and Dulah Krehbiel (April, 2007 exhibit.) For
pictures from these exhibitions see Past Events.
In addition to those events the Kalo Foundation continues to do
presentations to not only the general public, but also in local schools.
We're also in the process of updating the historical portion of this
website in order to give you greater knowledge and appreciation of the
history of the arts in Park Ridge. This is a time consuming task, so we ask
your patience in this. Do check back from time to time to see our progress.
For further information please email us at: info@kalofoundation.org.
The Kalo Foundation of Park Ridge
255 N. Northwest Hwy.
Park Ridge, IL 60068