Rex Parker featured in the Kalo Fall Exhibit, now through Oct. 24

Kalo Fall Exhibit
An exhibition presented by the Kalo Foundation of Park Ridge

Opening reception: Friday, September 11, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Gallery hours: Saturdays, September 12, 19, and 26; October 3, 10, 17, and 24, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Iannelli Studios (255 N Northwest Hwy, Park Ridge, IL 60068)

I am honored to be among the twenty-plus featured artists in the upcoming “Kalo Fall Exhibit” at the Kalo Foundation of Park Ridge. My contribution to the showcase includes two prints from a series dedicated to the historic Eastern Columbia Building in Los Angeles. It is a privilege to share this work alongside such a talented group of creators.

Eastern Columbia Print: 1

Recognized as the premier surviving example of Art Deco architecture in Los Angeles, the 1930 Eastern Columbia Building is a cherished Historic-Cultural Monument. Designed by Claud Beelman, this 13-story “Jewel of Downtown” is distinguished by its vibrant turquoise terra cotta façade, intricate sunburst motifs, and an iconic neon-lettered clock tower. This illustration features a 1930 Packard 745 Deluxe Eight, whose elegant Waterhouse convertible body perfectly echoes the building’s classic, high-style glamour.

Eastern Columbia Print: 3

The Eastern Columbia Building’s Iconic Clock Tower. Standing as a testament to early 20th-century elegance, this 40-foot beacon of Art Deco design illuminates the Los Angeles skyline with four, neon-clad clock faces. More than just a landmark, the tower acts as a timeless steward, witnessing the city’s evolution from its turquoise terra-cotta crown. This print captures that historic grandeur alongside the 1932 Granville Brothers Gee Bee R-1 racer— the ultimate air-racing machine piloted by Jimmy Doolittle and immortalized in the 1991 film “The Rocketeer.”

A visual masterpiece for the Five Cities Baroque Festival

In 2026, Rex marked his return to Decatur, Illinois, after four decades with a spectacular commemorative print for The Five Cities Baroque Festival. His design masterfully captures the epic scale of George Frideric Handel’s monumental oratorio, “Israel in Egypt,” visually interpreting its intricate double-chorus and iconic three-trombone score. This grand artwork perfectly sets the stage for the festival’s season finale—a timeless meditation on “oppression, redemption, and freedom”—led by Conductor Nate Widelitz at the Decatur First United Methodist Church.

In memoriam of remarkable pianist Katherine DeMoss Brown, a founding supporter of the Five Cities Baroque Foundation & Festival.

Rex Parker’s print series for WJE earned the prestigious Summit International Creative Award

WJE Communications and Marketing is proud to announce that artist Rex Parker and WJE’s Jamie Wild have been honored with a Summit Creative Award for the “WJE Poster Series.”

The initiative originated as a unique commemorative piece for the award-winning Miami-Dade Courthouse exterior restoration project. Driven by Jamie’s strategic vision and Rex’s distinctive artistic execution, the inaugural poster won the 2018 SMPS National Award of Merit and was inducted into the Chicago Design Archive in 2019. To date, the highly successful collaboration has produced 25 distinct prints highlighting 14 major WJE projects.

For over thirty years, the Summit International Awards has celebrated excellence in marketing, advertising, and design. As one of the longest-standing independent award organizations, they recognize standout creative work from around the globe, with participants from more than sixty countries and across five continents.

Three cities. Three eras. Three architectural icons. This exclusive poster series celebrates a trio of historic masterpieces:

The Ramova Theatre (Chicago): A 1929 Spanish Revival jewel by Meyer O. Nathan, blending an ornate terra-cotta facade and a classic 1944 neon marquee with rugged structural steel.

THE US Grant (San Diego): A 1910 Beaux-Arts masterpiece designed by Harrison Albright. As part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, this iconic landmark beautifully marries historic grandeur with contemporary luxury.

The Eastern Columbia Building (Los Angeles): Claud Beelman’s 1930 Art Deco “Jewel of Downtown,” defined by its vibrant turquoise terra-cotta, sunburst accents, and majestic clock tower.

"10 Artists for the Holidays: Christmas Past & Present" Exhibition at Iannelli Studios opens Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

10 Artists for the Holidays: Christmas Past & Present
An exhibition presented by the Kalo Foundation of Park Ridge

Exhibit opens Friday, December 6 from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Additional hours on December 7, 14, and 21 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

It’s a Wonderful Show, with enchanting holiday cards and prints where every angel gets its wings. The “10 Artists for the Holidays: Christmas Past & Present” Exhibition showcases joyous images created from 1910 to 2024 . . . celebrating the vibrant heritage of the Park Ridge art colony through the vitality of Park Ridge today.

The Exhibit opens Friday, December 6th at Iannelli Studios (255 North Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068) from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Featured artists: Melpo DeFotis, Alfonso Iannelli, Margaret Iannelli, Dulah Evans Krehbiel, Edgar Miller, Rex Parker, Don Pegler, Rae Penzin, Stephen H. Randahl and Mel Steinfels.

“It’s a Christmas Miracle, to be part of an show that includes such exceptional artisan as Alfonso Iannelli, Margaret Iannelli, Dulah Evans Krehbiel, Edgar Miller, and Mel Steinfels, just a great way to share the spirit of the season with your entire family”, said Parker.

My favorite print in the exhibit is the Nutcracker Holiday Concert. “I wanted a singular dramatic image to convey the magic and enchantment of The Nutcracker in this poster. The stylized shapes, bright colors create a whimsical and delightful toy soldier”, said Parker.

The Park Ridge Civic Orchestra performed Tchaikovsky’s acclaimed musical score December 2017. The Holiday Concert was a heart-lifting celebration, featuring timeless holiday music, from legendary Park Ridge pianist Kent Wehman and jazz vocalist, Sara Marie Young.

This Jazz Age print celebrates WJE’s award winning restoration of the Old Cook County Hospital

This poster celebrates Wiss Janney Elstner Associates Inc. for their award winning renovation of the Old Cook County Hospital. The rebirth of this breathtaking Beaux-Arts building is an amazing architectural achievement in landmark preservation.

“This spectacular illustration — reveals the remarkable color palette used on this project," said Parker.

The typeface used in the poster is the classic Goudy Old Style created in 1915 by Frederic Goudy. Goudy was America’s greatest typographer who designed over 100 fonts. He had offices in both Chicago and Park Ridge.

A yellow 1928 Rolls-Royce Sport Phantom is featured in the poster. It was the car driven by Robert Redford in 1974’s The Great Gatsby, perfectly capturing the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age.

Cook County Hospital was a beacon of hope for the people of Chicago for more than a century. WJE just put a spotlight on one of the most dazzling projects in Chicago.