The Art Sisters: Pictured from left are Mary Schuytema, Janis Mars Wunderlich Minor, Rae Standard, Linda Sickmon, Chris Dokolasa, and Lori Reed
MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (August 18, 2026) — Six artists who share a bond of friendship and creativity — including a Monmouth College art professor — will be featured in the college's first exhibition of the 2026-27 academic year.
Titled "artWORKlife," an exhibition by The Art Sisters will be on display through September 18 in the college's Len G Everett Gallery, which is located on the upper level of Hewes Library. A gallery talk and reception will be held on September 18, beginning at 3PM, with the talk to be given by the artists at 3:30PM.
The exhibition, talk, and reception are all free and open to the public.
The Art Sisters have been meeting to collaborate and critique since 2012. Their personal stories are woven into the work, and their shared experiences and monthly meetings influence the art they make. In addition to Monmouth faculty member Janis Mars Wunderlich Minor, the artists include Chris Dokolasa, Lori Reed, Mary Schuytema, Linda Sickmon, and Rae Standard.
Mary Schuytema: "My work's aim, over the past forty years, has been an attempt to mix earth with spirit. My materials of choice are clay, glaze, and natural elements such as root, wood, or stone. Most often, I incorporate the surrounding and grounding materials of my small farm into the vessels I create. Duchamp said, 'The things we truly love, the things forming the basis and roots of our being, are generally things we never look at.' I hope you'll join me in a new perception."
Chris Dokolasa: "Creating with clay gives me the opportunity to utilize my sense of design through the use of form, texture, pattern, color, and line. I feel like I have reached an artist's trifecta since finding my passion at a young age, working through my life to become proficient at creating, and having found others — like my Art Sisters — who enjoy and support my artistic endeavors."
Janis Mars Wunderlich Minor: "I am a storyteller, translating my experiences into visual narratives that speak of emotional vulnerability, turbulence, benevolence, and the power of resilience. I weave together animal, plant, and human forms to express our symbiotic connectedness and to celebrate the tranquility that comes from, quite literally, sitting still in nature."
Rae Standard: "I found my love for art at an early age — studying various artists and creating my own art. I came to clay later in life and it has become a passion for me. I've taken workshops and classes with a number of potters, learning about wheel work, hand building, glazing, and firing. Having my work juried into two national shows has been a thrill. I'm enjoying learning from my Sisters, creating fun and beautiful things, and sharing those with others."
Linda Sickmon: "My clay journey began later in life. Late start, but I jumped in with my heart and both feet. Many years of classes, workshops, intensive study, and studio time have contributed to where my work is now. One of my goals as a potter is to share work that is a pleasure to use even if it is nothing more than a really good mug. My work is quiet, has integrity and brings joy."
Lori Reed: "Working in mixed media, I digitally alter photos, print out four versions, cut the prints into strips, and combine them to make a new abstracted scene. Pieces of text, maps, ledgers, and vintage postage stamps find their way into the final layer of papers. In this 'Photobombing the Impressionists' series, I'm combining birds or animals with Impressionist paintings."
