Artist Transforms Vacant Tichan House into Hub for Young Talent

As an adult, Toni Ruppert looks back on the first thing her father would do each evening after work.

"He'd come home, and he'd draw," Ruppert said.

So she did, too. She began expressing her youth through her art, using it as a tool through the transition into high school. As a sophomore she entered a Chicago-wide art contest and brought home the third-place prize. That was the first time she considered the idea of art as a career.

Young artists don't have to wait to realize that same goal and Ruppert has teamed up with the to generate a program meant to channel raw, young artistic passion into creation and motivation.

Beginning March 23, Ruppert and the park district will offer an art program for children ages 9 and up located at the Tichan House, right up the sidewalk from the  Central Park building.

"It's a place local, central and safe where kids can come to do art," Ruppert said. "I've envisioned a place of maximum, amazing creativity.

Ruppert, whose work is featured in the reception area of the Central Park Building, moved to Oak Forest in 2001. She noticed the Tichan House while walking past the park district. The building, which houses a small kitchen area, a workspace and storage, is currently used for summer camp and leadership activities, said Gina Byrnes, recreation supervisor for the park district.

Though empty most days, the building is readily available for the program, which will be offered for kids ages 9 and up.

"It's ready to go, we just need to get the people in here," Byrnes said.

Ruppert offers years of artistic experience for her students. She's commissioned pieces for the park district, University of Chicago hospitals, Village of Country Club Hills and Living Springs Community Church in Glenwood.

The program will be 20 weeks long, at the cost of $30 for residents, $39 for non-residents, with an additional weekly fee of $10. Classes will be offered Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Students can attend as many or as few classes as they wish for the $10 weekly fee. The program's artistic focus and theme will change each month, oriented with three goals in mind.

"We want students to create one of a kind pieces that they can feel proud of, display in the community," Ruppert said. "We're also looking for business owners who have an affinity for the arts to 'adopt' a young artist, check in, mentor them."

Byrnes said the park district has already made arrangements to display the students' work during the in June. She said the art house will fill a void in the community.

"We wanted an affordable place for young people to come and explore the arts," Byrnes said. "The reason I'm excited about it, is our community gives a lot of attention and support to sports and sports programs.

"But we suffer in comparison, big-time, for the arts. This opportunity would just be lovely."

Registration will begin March 10. Classes will begin March 23. For more information, or e-mail Ruppert.