Bradley University hosts first Channy Lyons Memorial Lecture telling the story of Chicago artist Gertrude Abercrombie

By Kelcie Eminian and Kasey Walsh

Members of Bradley University and the Peoria community gathered in the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center for the first annual Channy Lyons Memorial Lecture, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Susan Weininger.

Dr. Weininger is a Professor Emerita of Art History at Roosevelt University in Chicago, and visited campus Wednesday to present her lecture titled “It’s Always Myself That I Paint”–The Work and Life of Gertrude Abercrombie.

The evening’s lecture focused on the biography and work of artist Gertrude Abercrombie, a prominent icon in Chicago’s art scene between 1930 and 1970. Abercrombie’s work centered around a set of particular symbols portraying herself that carried over from piece to piece. The significance of these symbols and technique were unique to Abercrombie, which earned their being deemed her “psychic self-portraits.”

The event was sponsored by Bradley University’s Department of Art and Design, the Fine Arts Society of Peoria, and the Illinois Women Artists Project. Each organization focuses on the advancement and recognition of female artists, particularly those of the Midwest.

Dr. Weininger serves as a chair advisor for the Illinois Women Artists Project in Peoria, which honored Peoria’s longtime local art advocate Channy Lyons, who passed away in 2017.

Lyons was a Peoria native who wrote the popular WCBU radio program titled “Peoria’s Hidden Treasures.”  She founded the Illinois Women Artists Project (IWA) in 2006, with a mission to make the stories of local artists accessible to all members of the Peoria community. From there, the project grew in contributing to national awareness of Midwest women’s contributions to the arts.

“I believe I met Channy when she came up with the idea for the Illinois Women Artists Project… I became a great fan of her tireless work ethic, her devotion, and her sweet humble nature. Having her in my life was an inspiration, and collaborating with her was a joy,” said Dr. Weininger.

In ensuring the advancement of the IWA, management of the project was granted to the Bradley University Department of Art in the fall of 2016. This new home in the university’s department brought about the hiring of the current full time director Kristan McKinsey to oversee the project’s development moving forward.

McKinsey anticipates that the university and Peoria community will continue honoring Lyons through future events.   

“This was the first ever Channy Lyons memorial lecture. I said ‘first’ in the hopes that we could maybe start a new tradition. She was such a passionate advocate for the arts and a well known figure in Central Illinois,” said McKinsey.

The lecture was just one of the many events that the organization puts on in the Peoria area.

“The Fine Arts Society tries to offer at least one evening lecture each season for people who cannot attend the morning lectures, and the board likes to collaborate with other arts organizations to expand our audience and build a community,” said McKinsey.

Lecture series like these directly link Bradley University students to the surrounding art community in the Peoria area.

Students from a variety of different fields of study were in attendance, and many appreciated the insight into a local art figure that the lecture provided.

“It was definitely an interesting perspective,” said Sydney Ryan, a senior Art Major, “I like attending events like this on campus, it’s neat to hear about people who worked right here in our own community.”

For more information on similar events throughout the semester, visit the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts.