EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - Community members are invited to celebrate the “Landscapes, Gardens and Leaves” art exhibit by Joann Rea during a special Opening Artist's Reception on Thursday, August 20, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the Fleetwood-Jourdain Art Guild Gallery of the Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., located on the second floor.

The exhibit itself can be viewed through Monday, May 31, 2016 in the second floor main corridor of the Morton Civic Center from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

Rea has been painting landscapes and gardens for 40 years to represent places she has lived or visited. Many of the landscapes are of the beautiful Maryland countryside around Washington, D.C. with the exception of two paintings, "Shakespeare Garden" and "Walled English Garden-Chicago Botanic Garden," which are both located in the Chicago area. For more information about her work, visit joannrea.com.

Admission to the reception and exhibition is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will also be available.

During the event, attendees will also have a special opportunity to view the “Anthology by Karl Johnson” exhibit in the Council Chambers, also located on the second floor of the Morton Civic Center.

Karl Johnson grew up in a world of forestry and art in the small town of Libertyville before car dealerships and subdivisions became part of the landscape. After coming to Evanston, he made the decision to devote his time to the arts and developed several distinct techniques involving the use of multiple layers of paint to achieve his vision. His paintings incorporate the rhythm and beauty, chaos and inconsistencies of the dynamic systems found in nature and science. Johnson’s maze-like patterns are interspersed with abstract forms and are known to reflect the trivial details of the human condition.

"Anthology by Karl Johnson" is currently on display through September 30, 2015. The exhibit is available for viewing before and after public meetings, Monday through Friday.

For more information about the “Landscapes, Gardens and Leaves” and “Anthology by Karl Johnson” exhibits, please contact Cultural Arts Coordinator Jennifer Lasik at 847-859-7835.